REALLY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does really mean? 

• REALLY (adverb)
  The adverb REALLY has 4 senses:

1. in accordance with truth or fact or reality

2. in actual fact

3. in fact (used as intensifiers or sentence modifiers)

4. used as intensifiers; 'real' is sometimes used informally for 'really'; 'rattling' is informal

  Familiarity information: REALLY used as an adverb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• REALLY (adverb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

In accordance with truth or fact or reality

Synonyms:

genuinely; really; truly

Context example:

they don't really listen to us

Pertainym:

real (being or reflecting the essential or genuine character of something)

Sense 2

Meaning:

In actual fact

Synonyms:

actually; really

Context example:

large meteorites actually come from the asteroid belt

Pertainym:

real (being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory)

Sense 3

Meaning:

In fact (used as intensifiers or sentence modifiers)

Synonyms:

in truth; really; truly

Context example:

a truly awful book

Domain usage:

intensifier; intensive (a modifier that has little meaning except to intensify the meaning it modifies)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Used as intensifiers; 'real' is sometimes used informally for 'really'; 'rattling' is informal

Synonyms:

rattling; real; really; very

Context example:

a rattling good yarn

 Context examples 

Isn't it awful! I feel sorry, really and truly sorry, for two of the poor fellows.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

One cannot know what a man really is by the end of a fortnight.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

“Look at me, Peggotty,” I replied; “and see if I am not really glad, and don't truly wish it!”

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

The situation was something that really exceeded rational formulas for conduct and demanded more than the cold conclusions of reason.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

Such a charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Because, my dear Watson, I had the strongest possible reason for wishing certain people to think that I was there when I was really elsewhere.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

My dear Theresa, as I told you before, I don't know. I really haven't thought about it.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

For the first time he was being really man-handled.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

I really saw in him a tyrant, a murderer.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

It is really very good of you to come and sit with me, when you must have so many pleasanter demands upon your time.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)