Synonyms for real
- adjective
- adverb
Most common
Synonyms by meaning
Adjective
1. Genuine, unfeigned — genuine, not artificial, counterfeit, or fake
true, actual, genuine, legitimate, authentic, good, literal, absolute, pure, pyore US, solid, certain, positive, sincere, objective, heart-felt, intrinsic, unadulterated, factual, proper, demonstrable, based, unquestionable
2. Substantial
Other
tangible, realistic, existent, historical, live, veridical, documentary, grounded
Adverb
1. Very — really; very
very formal, really, most, precious, preciously
Other
Definitions
- adj. 1
Genuine, not artificial, counterfeit, or fake.
- adj. 2
True, genuine, not merely nominal or apparent.
City hall has its place, but this pub is the real heart of the town.
- adv. 1
Really; very.
Se looked at me real strange.
Related words
Choose the right word
Actual has respect to a thing accomplished by doing, real to a thing as existing by whatever means or from whatever cause, positive to that which is fixed or established, developed to that which has reached completion by a natural process of unfolding.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- true The time will come when your dream will come true.
- actual James and Amanda were living an actual fairy tale.
- genuine These letters have been acknowledged to be genuine.
- legitimate Which prince is the legitimate heir to the throne?
- historical The Byzantine Empire is a historical construction.
- realistic Do you really think that your plans are realistic?
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| real | rising | |
| true | steady | |
| actual | falling | |
| genuine | steady | |
| legitimate | steady | |
| historical | rising |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 4 letters
- good1, very2, most1, live1, true1, pure1
- 5 letters
- based1, solid2, pyore
- 6 letters
- really2, actual3, proper2
- 7 letters
- certain2, genuine3, literal3, sincere2, factual3
- 8 letters
- positive3, material4, absolute3, concrete2, precious2, grounded2, tangible3, existent3
- 9 letters
- essential3, objective3, realistic4, authentic3, intrinsic3, veridical
- 10 letters
- historical4, legitimate4, preciously
- 11 letters
- substantial3, documentary5, substantive3
- 12 letters
- demonstrable4
- 13 letters
- unadulterated6
- 14 letters
- unquestionable5
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (very2 = 2 syllables).