# really

Pronunciation: US say "RI-lee" /ˈɹɪli/; UK say "RI-uh-lee" /ˈɹɪə.li/

## Adverb

1. To a great degree; used before an adjective to mean very, and with a verb to mean very much. *(colloquial)*
   - Simple: Very or very much, used to make a describing word or action stronger.
   - _Her presentation was really impressive._
   - _He really wants to move to a bigger city._
2. In actual fact or reality, rather than merely in appearance, imagination, pretense, or someone's claim.
   - Simple: Actually or truly, rather than just seeming true, being imagined, or being pretended.
   - _The painting everyone admired was really a forgery._
   - _What really happened that night remains a mystery._

## Interjection

3. Used in response to what someone has said to express interest or surprise, to ask for confirmation, or to convey doubt or skepticism, sometimes sarcastically; also used routinely to show one is listening. *(colloquial)*
   - Simple: Said after hearing something to show surprise or interest, to check it is true, or to show you doubt it.
   - _"They're moving to Alaska next month." "Really? They never mentioned it to me."_
   - _"This car gets a hundred miles per gallon." "Really? I'd want to see proof of that."_
4. Used to express displeasure or disapproval at another person's behavior or remark. *(colloquial)*
   - Simple: Used to show that you are unhappy with what someone did or said.
   - _"Well, really! There's no need for that kind of language at the dinner table."_
   - _He glanced at the phone she had answered mid-conversation and muttered, "Really?"_
5. Used to indicate emphatic agreement with or affirmation of what another speaker has just said. *(colloquial, US)*
   - Simple: Used to agree strongly with what someone just said.
   - _"The traffic on this highway gets worse every year." "Really. I've started leaving an hour early."_
   - _"They should have promoted her ages ago." "Really! She runs the whole department already."_

## Origin

From Middle English really (also realy, rialliche), formed from "real" plus the suffix "-ly".

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/really (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).