true

TROO/tɹuː/

16 meanings of true

1
adjective
Matching the facts. Real and correct, or about things that really happened.
Like a photo that shows exactly what was really there.
Everything she said about the trip turned out to be true.
Is it true that you moved to a new city last year?
UsageSay it's true that ..., and my dream came true.
Similaraccurate, correct, factual, right, real
Oppositefalse, untrue, inaccurate
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2
genuineadjective
Real, or being properly what the name says, as in 'a true friend' or 'true bugs'.
Like a real gold ring instead of a painted copy.
A whale is a true mammal, not a fish.
Only a true fan would stand in the rain for hours to get tickets.
UsagePut it before a noun: a true hero.
Similargenuine, real, authentic, proper, actual
Oppositefalse, fake
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3
faithfuladjective
Loyal and faithful to someone or something.
Like a dog that stays by your side no matter what.
A true friend will stand by you when things go wrong.
He stayed true to his promise even when it was hard.
UsageOften true to: stay true to your friends.
Similarloyal, faithful, steadfast, devoted, constant
Oppositedisloyal, unfaithful, false, faithless
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4
adjective
Used to begin a sentence by admitting something is correct before adding more.
True, it costs more, but it lasts much longer.
True, the road is longer, but it is much safer.
UsageStart with True, then add but: True, it's hard, but I'll try.
Similargranted, agreed
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5
adjective
Exact and following the correct pattern or rule.
Like a picture frame whose corners line up just right.
The model ship is a true copy of the real one.
Her drawing of the bird is true in every small detail.
UsageOften true to life.
Similarexact, accurate

Less common meanings

6
logic (yes)adjective
In computer or math logic, the value that means 'yes, this is so', the opposite of false.
Like a light switch that is turned on instead of off.
The program checks the password and returns true if it matches.
The check came back true, so the door unlocked.
Oppositefalse
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7
adjective
Of a direction, measured from the actual North and South Poles, not from the poles a compass points to.
On this map, the arrow at the top points to true north.
The pilot set a course of 90 degrees true for the island.
UsageOften in true north.
Similargeographic
Oppositemagnetic
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8
adjective
Lined up correctly, with nothing out of place.
Like a wheel that spins smoothly without wobbling.
After the repair, the bike wheel ran perfectly true.
The scale was true, so the weight it showed was right.
Similarstraight, aligned, accurate, level, square
Oppositemisaligned, crooked, warped, uneven
9
accurate shotadjective
Moving straight and accurately toward the target you aimed at.
Like rolling a ball in a perfectly straight line right to where you wanted it.
The kick was true and went right between the posts.
Her aim was true, and the dart landed dead center.
Similaraccurate, straight
Oppositewild, wayward, inaccurate
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10
straightenverbtransitive
To fix something so it is straight, level, or lined up correctly.
Like straightening a crooked picture until it hangs just right.
He needs to true the shelf so it sits level.
Carpenters true each board before they join the pieces.
UsageOften true up.
Similarstraighten, align, level
Note
11
adverb
In a straight, accurate way, toward a target, or turning smoothly without wobbling.
Like a marble rolling straight into a cup without curving away.
She aimed carefully and the ball flew true to the basket.
He kicked the ball hard, and it flew true into the net.
UsageUse it after a verb: the arrow flew true.
Similarstraight, accurately, squarely
Oppositewide, astray, awry
Note
12
noununcountable
The condition of being straight and lined up correctly.
Like a picture frame hanging perfectly level, not tilted.
The bike wheel was out of true and wobbled as it spun.
A good mechanic can bring a bent wheel back into true.
UsageOften out of true: not straight.
Similaralignment, plumb, square
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13
fairadjective
Fair and not changed to favor one result.
Like a game where everyone has the same chance to win.
She checked that the dice were true and not loaded.
Roll a true die and every side has the same chance.
Similarfair, unbiased, honest
Oppositeloaded, biased, weighted, crooked
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14
honestlyadverbarchaic
In an honest and truthful way.
Like answering a question honestly instead of making something up.
Speak true and tell me what you saw that night.
I tel you true my hart is ſwolne with wrath, On this ſame theeuish villain Tamburlain.
c. 1587, [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. The First PartHere, true means truthfully or honestly.
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15
nounobsoleteuncountable
Truth, or what is real and honest.
Note
16
ceasefirenounobsoletecountable
A promise of loyalty, or an agreement to stop fighting for a time.
Note

Practice

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Origin

From Old English trīewe, meaning "trusty, faithful," which came from an old Germanic word. It goes back to a root meaning "steady, firm" and is linked to the word for "tree."

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 5 facts

True derives from Old English trīewe, through Middle English. en.wiktionary.org
Old English trīewe meant trusty or faithful. en.wiktionary.org
The Old English word descends from an earlier Germanic word. en.wiktionary.org
Its ancestral root expressed firmness or steadiness. en.wiktionary.org
True is etymologically related to tree. en.wiktionary.org