Language Research

truth · noun

/truːθ/Full view

Word family

Nouns: truism, truth, untruth, truthfulness

Adjectives: true, untrue, truthful

Adverbs: truly, truthfully

the truth

B1 the real facts about a situation, event or person

Dictionary examples:

But was he telling the truth?

I don't suppose we'll ever know the truth about what happened that day.

To tell (you) the truth I'm quite pleased he's not coming.

Learner example:

To tell the truth, I don't enjoy shopping for clothes. (Preliminary English Test; B1; Farsi)

truth (BEING TRUE)

B2 U the quality of being true

Dictionary examples:

There may be some truth in what she says.

There is no truth in the reports of his resignation.

And yet what he says contains at least a grain of truth.

Learner example:

My humble opinion is that this statement is absolute, even though there is a great deal of truth behind it. (First Certificate in English; B2; Greek)

truth (TRUE FACT)

C2 C a fact or idea that people accept is true

Dictionary example:

moral/religious truths

Learner example:

It was about those universal truths that one seeks all [one's] life and perhaps dies without truly understanding how happy one was. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Serbian)