true

UK: /ˈtruː/ US: /tru/ ,(tro̅o̅)

Inflections of 'true' (adj):

truer

adj comparative

truest

adj superlative

Inflections of 'true' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

trues

v 3rd person singular

truing

v pres p

trueing

v pres p

trued

v past

trued

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

true /tru/   adj., tru•er, tru•est, n., adv., v., trued, tru•ing or true•ing. 
adj. 

1. being in accordance with reality;
   agreeing with reality or fact:
   a true story; Everything they say about you is true.
   [It + be + ~ + that clause]
   It is true that the earth is round.
2. real;
   genuine;
   authentic:
   [before a noun] true gold.
3. sincere;
   not deceitful:
   [before a noun] a true interest in others.
4. loyal;
   faithful;
   steadfast:
   a true friend.
   [be + ~ + to]
   He was true to his principles.
5. being or reflecting the character of:
   [before a noun] The true meaning of his statement was actually something very different from what it appeared to be.
6. exact;
   precise;
   accurate;
   correct:
   a true copy.
7. such as it should be;
   proper:
   to arrange things in their true order.
8. properly so called:
   That was true statesmanship: being able to work with both sides and reach a compromise.
9. legitimate:
   the true heir to the throne.
10. exactly, correctly, or accurately shaped, formed, or placed, as a surface or instrument:
    This door isn't true; it doesn't hang straight.

n. [uncountable]

11. proper, exact, or accurate alignment:
    to be out of true.

adv. 

12. in a true manner;
    truly;
    truthfully.
13. exactly or accurately:
    The door isn't lined up true.

v. 

14. to adjust, shape, etc., exactly or accurately: [~ (+ up) + object]
    to true (up) the door.
    [~ + object (+ up)]
    to true the door (up).

Idioms

15. Idioms come true, (of a wish, etc.) to become a reality:
    All your dreams will come true when you make this change in your life.

Related Words

true is an adjective, truth is a noun, truthful is an adjective, truthfully is an adverb:
Her statements are all true. Her statements contain a great deal of truth. She is a truthful child. She spoke truthfully.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

true  (tro̅o̅), adj., tru•er, tru•est, n., adv., v., trued, tru•ing or true•ing. 
adj. 

1. being in accordance with the actual state or conditions;
   conforming to reality or fact;
   not false:
   a true story.
2. real;
   genuine;
   authentic:
   true gold; true feelings.
3. sincere;
   not deceitful:
   a true interest in someone's welfare.
4. firm in allegiance;
   loyal;
   faithful;
   steadfast:
   a true friend.
5. being or reflecting the essential or genuine character of something:
   the true meaning of his statement.
6. conforming to or consistent with a standard, pattern, or the like:
   a true copy.
7. exact;
   precise;
   accurate;
   correct:
   a true balance.
8. of the right kind;
   such as it should be;
   proper:
   to arrange things in their true order.
9. properly so called;
   rightly answering to a description:
   true statesmanship.
10. legitimate or rightful:
    the true heir.
11. reliable, unfailing, or sure:
    a true sign.
12. exactly or accurately shaped, formed, fitted, or placed, as a surface, instrument, or part of a mechanism.
13. honest;
    honorable;
    upright.
14. Biology conforming to the type, norm, or standard of structure of a particular group;
    typical:
    The lion is a true cat.
15. Animal Husbandry purebred.
16. Nautical, Naval Terms [Navig.] (of a bearing, course, etc.) determined in relation to true north.
17. [Archaic.] truthful.

n. 

18. exact or accurate formation, position, or adjustment:
    to be out of true.
19. the true, something that is true;
    truth.

adv. 

20. in a true manner;
    truly;
    truthfully.
21. exactly or accurately.
22. in conformity with the ancestral type:
    to breed true.
23. come true, to have the expected or hoped-for result;
    become a reality:
    She couldn't believe that her dream would ever come true.

v.t. 

24. to make true;
    shape, adjust, place, etc., exactly or accurately:
    to true the wheels of a bicycle after striking a pothole.
25. Building (esp. in carpentry) to make even, symmetrical, level, etc. (often fol. by up):
    to true up the sides of a door.

• bef. 900; Middle English trewe (adjective, adjectival and adverb, adverbial), Old English trēowe (adjective, adjectival) loyal, trusty, honest (see trow, truce); akin to Dutch trouw, German treu, Old Norse tryggr, Gothic triggws

true′ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. factual, veracious. See real ¹.
• 3. honest.
• 4. trustworthy; staunch, constant, steady, unwavering.
• 7. faithful.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

true / truː/ adjective (truer, truest)

1. not false, fictional, or illusory; factual or factually accurate; conforming with reality
2. (prenominal) being of real or natural origin; genuine; not synthetic
3. unswervingly faithful and loyal to friends, a cause, etc
4. conforming to a required standard, law, or pattern: a true aim, a true fit
5. exactly in tune
6. (of a compass bearing) according to the earth's geographical rather than magnetic poles: true north
7. conforming to the typical structure of a designated type
8. not apparent or relative; taking into account all complicating factors
   Compare apparent3

noun

1. correct alignment (esp in the phrases in true, out of true)

adverb

1. truthfully; rightly
2. precisely or unswervingly

verb (trues, truing, trued)

1. (transitive) to adjust so as to make true

Etymology: Old English triewe; related to Old Frisian triūwe, Old Saxon, Old High German triuwi loyal, Old Norse tryggr; see trow, trust

ˈtrueness noun