Adjective / Adverb A2 — Elementary /rɪəl/

Real — Definition, Examples & Usage

Actually existing, genuine, not imaginary — and in informal English, very.

Quick Definition

Real (adjective) — actually existing or happening; genuine and not imaginary, artificial, or pretended. Real (adverb, informal) — very; truly: She made a real effort to improve her written English.

What Does Real Mean?

Real is one of the most common adjectives in English and covers several closely related ideas. Its core meaning is actually existing — the opposite of imaginary, fictional, or invented. When you say something is real, you are claiming it exists in fact: a real person, a real danger, a real opportunity.

A second important sense is genuine or authentic — not a copy, imitation, or substitute: real leather, a real diamond, the real thing. In this sense, real contrasts with fake, artificial, or imitation.

A third sense emphasises significance or seriousness: a real problem means a significant one, not a minor or theoretical one. This use is very common in everyday speech: "That is a real concern."

In informal British and American English, real is also used as an adverb meaning very: "That was real kind of you." In formal writing, use the adverb really instead.

Etymology

Real entered English in the 15th century from Old French reel and Late Latin realis (relating to things), derived from Latin res meaning thing or matter. The same root gives English reality, realism, republic (from res publica, "public matter"), and the legal term real estate — where real originally referred to immovable things (land, buildings) as opposed to personal property.

Example Sentences

SentenceLevel & Usage Note
Is that a real spider, or is it a toy? A2real = actually existing, not fake
She made a real effort to improve her written English. B1real = genuine, significant
There is a real risk that the project will run over budget. B1a real risk = a serious, not imaginary risk
The film blurs the boundary between the real and the fictional world. B2real used as a noun (the real)
The philosophy seminar examined whether abstract concepts such as justice have any real-world existence independent of human thought. C1real-world as compound adjective; formal register

Collocations

CollocationExample
real lifeIn real life, decisions are rarely that simple.
real worldStudents need skills they can use in the real world.
real timeThe data is updated in real time.
real estateShe works in the real estate sector.
real effortHe made a real effort to arrive on time.
real dangerThere is a real danger of flooding in this area.
real differenceRegular practice makes a real difference to your fluency.
the real thingOnce you taste the real thing, you will never go back to imitations.
real concernSecurity remains a real concern for many organisations.
real possibilityReaching an agreement is now a real possibility.

Usage Notes

Usage Notes

Adjective vs adverb: In formal and written English, use really (not real) as an adverb: It was really difficult, not It was real difficult. Using real as an adverb is acceptable in informal speech but marks the register as casual.

Real vs actual: Both contrast with something imaginary or assumed, but they emphasise different things. Real stresses existence or genuineness; actual stresses fact versus expectation: The actual cost was higher than quoted (not the real cost in this context).

Real vs true: Real confirms that something exists or happened. True confirms that a statement is correct or factual. A story can be real (it happened) but contain details that are not true (not accurate).

Get real / for real: These are informal fixed expressions. Get real means "be realistic". For real means "genuinely" or "seriously". Both are appropriate only in informal spoken English.

Common Mistakes

Watch Out For

She is real tired after the exam.

She is really tired after the exam. (use the adverb really before an adjective in formal writing)

That's not the real reason of his decision.

That's not the real reason for his decision. (use for, not of, after reason)

I want to see a real life example.

I want to see a real-life example. (hyphenate real-life when used before a noun)

Related Words

really (adverb) reality (noun) realistic (adjective) realise / realize (verb) realism (noun) unreal (adjective) surreal (adjective)

Synonyms

genuine actual true authentic existing tangible concrete

Antonyms

imaginary fake artificial fictional unreal pretend

Practise This Word

Flash Cards Complete the Sentence Vocabulary Quiz Hangman

Frequently Asked Questions about “real”

What does real mean in English?
Real has two main meanings. As an adjective it means actually existing or genuine — not imaginary, fake, or artificial: 'Is that a real diamond?' As an informal adverb (mainly British and American English) it means very or truly: 'That was a real surprise.' The adjective use is appropriate in all registers; the adverb use is informal.
What is the difference between real and really?
Real is an adjective that describes a noun: 'a real problem'. Really is an adverb that modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb: 'She really tried hard' or 'It was really difficult.' In standard British English, using real as an adverb ('real good') is informal; in formal writing always use really.
What is the difference between real and true?
Real emphasises that something exists or happened — it is not imaginary or fake: 'a real event'. True emphasises that a statement or belief corresponds to fact: 'a true story'. A ghost story can be real (it actually happened) but not true (the ghost did not exist). These words overlap but are not always interchangeable.
What does for real mean?
'For real' is an informal phrase meaning genuinely or seriously: 'Is this for real?' or 'I am moving to Spain — for real this time.' It is common in spoken English and informal writing but should be avoided in academic or professional contexts.
What is the adverb form of real?
The standard adverb is really: 'She worked really hard.' In informal spoken British and American English, real is also used as an adverb: 'That's real good of you.' In formal writing, academic essays, and professional communication, always use really rather than real as an adverb.
What is the noun form of real?
The main noun form is reality (the state of things as they actually exist) and realism (a tendency to regard things as they really are). The adjective realistic and the adverb realistically are also part of the same word family. Real itself is used as a noun only in economics (a real, the monetary unit of Brazil).
What is the origin of the word real?
Real entered English in the 15th century from Old French reel and Late Latin realis, derived from Latin res meaning 'thing' or 'matter'. The same Latin root gives English words such as reality, realism, republic (res publica — 'public matter'), and even the legal term real estate, where real refers to things (land, property) rather than people.
What are common collocations with real?
Common collocations include: real life, real world, real time, real estate, real danger, real problem, real effort, real difference, the real thing, real possibility, real concern, and keep it real. Many of these combine real with abstract nouns to emphasise that something is genuine or significant rather than theoretical.
What is the difference between real and actual?
Both words contrast with something imaginary or theoretical. Real focuses on existence or genuineness: 'Is it a real offer?' Actual focuses on fact versus assumption or expectation: 'The actual cost was higher than expected.' You can say 'the real reason' (the genuine, not false one) or 'the actual reason' (the true one, as opposed to what was thought).
How can I practise using real in English?
Use LexFizz's Complete the Sentence exercise to practise real, really, and related forms in context. The Flash Cards tool tests vocabulary including the real word family. Reading news articles and listening to podcasts are also effective ways to notice how native speakers use real versus really in natural English.