real

re|al1 [ riəl ] adjective ***

▸ 1 in physical world

▸ 2 true, not just claimed

▸ 3 with true qualities

▸ 4 not false/artificial

▸ 5 the most important

▸ 6 important/impressive

▸ 7 about amount/number

▸ 8 seeming like life

▸ + PHRASES

1. ) existing in the physical world, not just in someone's imagination or in stories:

Children believe that these characters are real.

She had many illnesses, both real and imaginary.

real live: I had never met a real live pop star before.

2. ) usually before noun true, and not just according to what someone claims:

We all know the President's real reason for refusing to speak.

Her real name is Jane Trent.

3. ) INFORMAL complete: used for emphasizing that a description of someone or something is very accurate:

You could tell the guy was a real nerd.

This walk is a real treat for anyone interested in birds.

a ) used for emphasizing that someone or something has the true qualities of a particular type of person or thing:

He had no real friends.

Few tourists see the real Spain.

b ) the real thing INFORMAL an original and true thing, not something that has been made to appear similar:

Why is low-alcohol beer more expensive than the real thing?

4. ) not false or artificial: GENUINE:

Is that a real diamond?

You'd pay more for real leather.

5. ) most important:

Forget these side issues, and let's deal with the real issue.

The real problem is toxic waste and oil slicks.

6. ) usually before noun important or impressive enough to be worth considering or worrying about:

The committee had little real power.

The trip was difficult, but we were never in any real danger.

7. ) only before noun a real amount or number is one that you get after considering everything that could affect its value:

Real economic growth was measured at 4.5 percent.

real wages (=the true value of wages): Both prices and wages are rising, leaving real wages unchanged.

a ) in real terms after considering all the things that affect the true value of something:

Spending was cut by 4 percent in real terms.

8. ) something in a book, movie, etc. that is real seems so much like life that you almost believe it exists: REALISTIC:

The battle scenes are frighteningly real.

Modern computer graphics look so real!

for real

1. ) if something is for real, you are doing it seriously, not just practicing or pretending:

We'd imagined what an attack would be like, but this time it was for real.

2. ) is someone for real? AMERICAN SPOKEN used for showing that you think that someone is funny, stupid, or surprising:

Look at that outfit he's wearing is he for real?

get real SPOKEN

used for telling someone to start considering something in a sensible way and stop being silly or unreasonable about it

real

re|al 2 [ riəl ] adverb AMERICAN SPOKEN

extremely:

a real nice guy

Could this wait? I'm real tired.