Language Research

real · adjective

/riːl/Full view

Word family

Nouns: realism, realist, reality, unreality, realization

Adjectives: real, unreal, realistic, unrealistic

Verbs: realize

Adverbs: real, really, realistically

real (NOT IMAGINED)

A2 existing in fact and not imagined

Dictionary examples:

He's not real you know, he's just a character in a book.

The two principal actors are brothers in real life.

Learner example:

I have recently s[een] a program called "Real life". The program is very good because you can see [what] the real world [is like]. (Preliminary English Test; B1; Spanish)

real (NOT FALSE)

A2 not artificial or false

Dictionary examples:

real leather

Paul saw the Beatles at Shea Stadium in 1966 - that ticket is the real thing!

Learner example:

They brought a car for me but not [a] real [one]. (Key English Test; A2; Lithuanian)

real (TRUE)

B1 always before noun true and not pretended

Dictionary examples:

What's the real reason she didn't come?

Is that your real name?

Learner example:

That is the real reason why I'm going to stay in England longer. (Preliminary English Test; B1; Polish)

real (IMPORTANT)

B2 always before noun being the most important or the main thing

Dictionary examples:

The real problem, of course, is money.

The real difficulty was the language, because my children don't speak English.

Learner example:

Nowadays people work most of the time with their computers, [and] the internet give[s] them the op[p]ortunity to download whatever they want, even books, but the real problem is that they do not have the time to read them. (First Certificate in English; B2; Spanish)

real (FOR EMPHASIS)

B2 always before noun used to emphasize a noun

Dictionary examples:

She was a real help.

It's a real pain he's not available tomorrow.

Learner example:

In the advertisement it says "your perfect evening out", but it was a real disappointment. (First Certificate in English; B2; Swedish)

for real

B2 taken seriously, not pretended

Dictionary example:

I thought it was just a practice, but apparently it was for real.

Learner example:

I thought it was a joke but when I saw the signature I knew it was for real. (Preliminary English Test; B1; Spanish)