Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *(H)reh₁-der.
Proto-Indo-European *(H)reh₁ís
Proto-Italic *reis
Classical Latin rēs
Proto-Indo-European *h₂el-
Proto-Indo-European *-is
Proto-Indo-European *h₂élisder.?
Proto-Italic *-ālis
Latin -ālis
Late Latin reālisder.
Old French reelbor.
Middle English real
Proto-Indo-European *leyg-der.
Proto-Germanic *līkąder.
Proto-Germanic *-līkaz
Proto-Germanic *-ê
Proto-Germanic *-līkê
Proto-West Germanic *-līkē
Old English -līċe
Middle English -ly
Middle English really
English really
From Middle English really, realy, rialliche, equivalent to real + -ly.
Meanings
(qualifier:literal) In a way or manner that is real, not unreal.
Thus Brahman must be described as ‘really real’, while a rope, or a person, or God Himself, is ‘unreally real’. And it is only the Vedantin who can distinguish the real from the unreal, for to others all seems real. 1975, Robin H. S. Boyd, An introduction to Indian Christian theology, page 48:
We are to believe that by an extraordinary Conception by Means of the holy Ghost he in an extraordinary MANNER, (unknown to us) really assumed Flesh, and was by her nourished in the Womb and in due Time born in a natural Manner, and that whilst on Earth he was really hungry, and dry, and eat and drank as really as other Men, without, any Deception of Sight in us or Delusion whatsoever. 1751, John Roche, Moravian Heresy, page 168:
If we take the phenomenal world as it strikes our senses, in all its varied and wonderful powers and aspects; as the mere symbol of the Divine Presence and power, that is, according to Christ, ever in, through, and over all, as really as are causal light, heat and gravity, or as really as our own life and souls pervade every atom of our bodies, [...] 1878, Jonathan Baldwin Turner, Christ's Words as Related to Science,..., page 52:
(modal) Actually; in fact; in reality.
"He really is a true friend." / "Really? What makes you so sure?"
(as an intensifier, informal) Very (modifying an adjective); very much (modifying a verb).
It was a joy to snatch some brief respite, and find himself in the rectory drawing–room. Listening here was as pleasant as talking; just to watch was pleasant. The young priests who lived here wore cassocks and birettas; their faces were fine and mild, yet really strong, like the rector's face; and in their intercourse with him and his wife they seemed to be brothers. 1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter X, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:
There was also hairdressing: hairdressing, too, really was hairdressing in those times — no running a comb through it and that was that. It was curled, frizzed, waved, put in curlers overnight, waved with hot tongs;[…]. 1977, Agatha Christie, chapter 4, in An Autobiography, part II, London: Collins, →ISBN:
fi oikeasti (informally, as an intensifier; very, very much) · km តាមពិត (actually) · lv faktiski (actually) · nn verkeleg (actually) · lv īstenībā (actually) · nb virkelig (actually) · yue 真係 /真系 (actually) · tr gerçekten (actually) · ml ശരിക്കും (actually) · km ពិតជា (informally, as an intensifier; very, very much) · pl naprawdę (actually) · sv verkligen (actually) · uk ді́йсно (actually) · ja 本当に (actually) · sh doista (actually) · ang sōþe (actually) · ga dáiríre (actually) · az doğrudan (actually) · cs skutečně (informally, as an intensifier; very, very much) · ko 진짜로 (actually) · lv patiešām (actually) · hu valóban (actually) · fr vraiment (actually) · hy իրոք (informally, as an intensifier; very, very much) · acw من صدق (actually) · ur واقعی (actually) · hu igazán (actually) · fi todella (actually) · la vere (actually) · km មែនឬទេ? (actually) · tr cidden (informally, as an intensifier; very, very much) · pl zaprawdę (actually) · hu tényleg (actually) · grc ἀληθῶς (actually) · ngh kxʼam (actually) · el πραγματικά (informally, as an intensifier; very, very much) · bg наистина (informally, as an intensifier; very, very much) · cmn 真的 (actually) · liv tuodlist (actually) · az həqiqətən (informally, as an intensifier; very, very much) · hu annyira (informally, as an intensifier; very, very much) · is virkilega (actually) · ko 참 (actually) · nap veramente (actually) · ru действи́тельно (actually) · nl echt (actually) · te చాలా (informally, as an intensifier; very, very much) · sh baš (informally, as an intensifier; very, very much) · sh fakat (informally, as an intensifier; very, very much) · it davvero (actually) · pt realmente (informally, as an intensifier; very, very much) · et tõesti (actually) · el αληθινά (informally, as an intensifier; very, very much) · pt mesmo (informally, as an intensifier; very, very much) · es realmente (informally, as an intensifier; very, very much) · et tõepoolest (actually) · sw kweli (actually) · liv tuodpūolst (actually) · es realmente (actually) · mk навистина (actually) · ko 정말로 (actually) · vi thật sự (actually) · is raunar (actually) · de wirklich (informally, as an intensifier; very, very much) · acw من جد (actually) · liv tuodstiz (actually) · sv sannerligen (actually) · pt realmente (actually) · el όντως (actually) · chr ᏙᎯᏳ (informally, as an intensifier; very, very much) · km មែនឬ? (actually) · az həqiqətən (actually) · ms memang (actually) · km មែនទេ? (actually) · ml ശരിക്കും (informally, as an intensifier; very, very much) · fr vraiment (informally, as an intensifier; very, very much) · de wirklich (actually) · fi oikeasti (actually) · it veramente (informally, as an intensifier; very, very much) · ang sōþes (actually) · cic kani̠hka̠ (informally, as an intensifier; very, very much) · is raunverulega (actually) · hy իրոք (actually) · is virkilega (informally, as an intensifier; very, very much) · ngh -xa (actually) · is sannarlega (actually) · pt na verdade (actually) · eo vere (actually) · cs skutečně (actually) · hy իսկապես (actually) · sh zbilja (actually) · fi todella (informally, as an intensifier; very, very much) · ca realment (actually) · ajp عن جد (actually) · it veramente (actually) · grc ὄντως (actually) · no veldig (informally, as an intensifier; very, very much) · my တကယ် (actually) · io tre (informally, as an intensifier; very, very much) · hu csakugyan (actually) · pon ahpw (informally, as an intensifier; very, very much) · km ណាស់ (informally, as an intensifier; very, very much) · hu igazán (informally, as an intensifier; very, very much) · pl zaiste (actually) · nv doo kááʼgóó (actually) · tr harbiden (informally, as an intensifier; very, very much) · tr gerçekten (informally, as an intensifier; very, very much) · da virkelig (actually) · tyz ca rại (actually) · yi ווירקלעך (actually) · sh stvarno (actually) · mhr але (actually) · nl werkelijk (informally, as an intensifier; very, very much) · lv patiesībā (actually) · zza heqeta (actually) · nap ô vero (informally, as an intensifier; very, very much) · ko 진짜 (actually) · eo tre (informally, as an intensifier; very, very much) · el πραγματικά (actually) · sv verkligen (informally, as an intensifier; very, very much) · lv patiesi (actually) · cmn 真 (informally, as an intensifier; very, very much) · hy իսկապես (informally, as an intensifier; very, very much) · bg наистина (actually) · wmw kweli (actually) · grc τῷ ὄντι (actually) · nap ô vero (actually) · ru пра́вда (informally, as an intensifier; very, very much) · nl werkelijk (actually) · ig ezị okwu (actually) · tr aslında (actually) · ary بالصح (actually) · az doğrudan (informally, as an intensifier; very, very much) · fi tosi (informally, as an intensifier; very, very much) · he בֶּאֱמֶת (actually) · te నిజంగా (actually) · arz بجد (actually) · sv egentligen (actually) · fa واقعاً (actually) · km តាមការពិត (actually) · th จริงๆ (informally, as an intensifier; very, very much) · el αληθινά (actually) · pl naprawdę (informally, as an intensifier; very, very much) · vi rất (informally, as an intensifier; very, very much) · it davvero (informally, as an intensifier; very, very much) · pt mesmo (actually) · ar حَقًّا (actually) · sh uistinu (actually) · izh toest (actually) · ajp عن جد (actually) · ro pe bune (actually) · lt labai (informally, as an intensifier; very, very much) · cy yn wir (actually) · lt tikrai (actually) · el πράγματι (actually) · fa واقعاً (informally, as an intensifier; very, very much) · ja まじ (informally, as an intensifier; very, very much) · la vero (actually) · eo efektive (actually) · ca de debò (actually) · hi सचमुच (actually)
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *(H)reh₁-der.
Proto-Indo-European *(H)reh₁ís
Proto-Italic *reis
Classical Latin rēs
Proto-Indo-European *h₂el-
Proto-Indo-European *-is
Proto-Indo-European *h₂élisder.?
Proto-Italic *-ālis
Latin -ālis
Late Latin reālisder.
Old French reelbor.
Middle English real
Proto-Indo-European *leyg-der.
Proto-Germanic *līkąder.
Proto-Germanic *-līkaz
Proto-Germanic *-ê
Proto-Germanic *-līkê
Proto-West Germanic *-līkē
Old English -līċe
Middle English -ly
Middle English really
English really
From Middle English really, realy, rialliche, equivalent to real + -ly.
Meanings
(informal) Indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information; to express skepticism.
A: He won the Nobel Prize yesterday.
B: Really?
(broadly, informal) Indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information; to express skepticism. ▸ A phatic confirmation by a listener, to signal active listening; mostly devoid of literal meaning, with the phatically contrived incredulity being merely formulaic.
A: You know, I saw Oliver the other day.
"Literally" is not the only word that has lost touch with reality: look at "really." That word also was meant to describe a state of reality, or literalness. Even as a substitute for "Is that so?," the word asked, "Is that true, or real?" Nowadays, one guy goes, "I literally flew off the handle," and the other guy goes "Really." It's a grunt, meaning, "I'm still here." 1979 November 4, William Safire, “On Language [column]”, in New York Times:
B: Really? What's he been up to?
(informal, qualifier:typically exaggerated question., sarcastic) Indicating that what was just said was obvious and unnecessary; contrived incredulity
B: Really?
A: I've just been reading Shakespeare - he's one of the best authors like, ever!
(US, informal) Indicating affirmation, agreement.
A: That girl talks about herself way too much.
B: Really. She's a nightmare.
(informal) Indicating displeasure at another person's behaviour or statement.
Well, really! How rude.
Forms
Spelling
Features
Labels
Source
real-ly
alternative
lexicographic
reälly
alternative
lexicographic
Synonyms
is that so (incredulity, phatically contrived incredulity, or in ironic/sarcastic sense) · no kidding (incredulity, phatically contrived incredulity, or in ironic/sarcastic sense) · oh really (incredulity, phatically contrived incredulity, or in ironic/sarcastic sense) · wow (incredulity, phatically contrived incredulity, or in ironic/sarcastic sense) · you don't say (incredulity, phatically contrived incredulity, or in ironic/sarcastic sense) · gosh (incredulity, phatically contrived incredulity, or in ironic/sarcastic sense) · oh my (incredulity, phatically contrived incredulity, or in ironic/sarcastic sense) · no really (incredulity, phatically contrived incredulity, or in ironic/sarcastic sense) · oh dear (incredulity, phatically contrived incredulity, or in ironic/sarcastic sense) · no way (incredulity, phatically contrived incredulity, or in ironic/sarcastic sense) · actually (affirmation, agreement)
Translations (148)
pt sério? (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · pl doprawdy? (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · de in der Tat (indicating affirmation, agreement) · uk наспра́вді (indicating displeasure at another person's behaviour) · de ach was (sarcastic, typically exaggerated question) · pl właśnie (indicating affirmation, agreement) · it veramente? (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · nv tʼáásh aaníí (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · vi thật sao? (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · hu komolyan? (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · fr vraiment (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · hu ne mondd! (sarcastic, typically exaggerated question) · sv verkligen (indicating affirmation, agreement) · de ach nee (sarcastic, typically exaggerated question) · nn verkeleg? (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · mi i neki (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · pl naprawdę (indicating affirmation, agreement) · la an vero (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · nb virkelig? (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · ar حَقًّا (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · de absolut (indicating affirmation, agreement) · hil abâ (indicating affirmation, agreement) · gu હોવે (sarcastic, typically exaggerated question) · ru серьёзно? (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · mi ata (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · tr gerçekten mi? (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · ar لَيْسَ مَعْقُل! (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · uk ді́йсно (indicating affirmation, agreement) · pl czyżby? (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · ms benarkah (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · vi thế à? (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · th เอาดีๆ (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · el όντως (indicating affirmation, agreement) · hu az ám (indicating affirmation, agreement) · nl echt? (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · cs opravdu? (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · it ma dai? (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · cmn 確實 /确实 (indicating affirmation, agreement) · es ¿de verdad? (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · tr gerçekten de (indicating affirmation, agreement) · el αλήθεια (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · hu nem mondja?! (sarcastic, typically exaggerated question) · ja ほんと？ (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · it veramente! (indicating affirmation, agreement) · ru пра́вда? (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · ru да ла́дно (sarcastic, typically exaggerated question) · ar وَٱللّٰه؟ (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · ru на са́мом де́ле (indicating displeasure at another person's behaviour) · sv verkligen? (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · he ואללה? (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · tr cidden (indicating affirmation, agreement) · tr gerçekten (indicating affirmation, agreement) · th จริงเหรอ (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · ru действи́тельно (indicating affirmation, agreement) · sv säger du det? (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · fa جداً؟ (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · mn нээрэн үү? (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · mi nē (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · la itane (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · ro pe bune? (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · cs skutečně? (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · he בֶּאֱמֶת? (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · nl werkelijk? (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · el πραγματικά (indicating affirmation, agreement) · th เอาจริง (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · uk спра́вді (indicating affirmation, agreement) · es en serio (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · la an (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · pl doprawdy (indicating displeasure at another person's behaviour) · fi todellakin (indicating affirmation, agreement) · fa واقعاً؟ (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · ja 本真に？ (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · de was du nicht sagst (sarcastic, typically exaggerated question) · de tatsächlich? (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · th จริงจัง? (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · fr ah bon (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · ja 確かに (indicating affirmation, agreement) · de sag bloß (sarcastic, typically exaggerated question) · ko 그래요? (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · de wirklich? (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · hu nem mondod?! (sarcastic, typically exaggerated question) · mi āta koia (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · de (ach) ja? (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · da virkelig? (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · th จริงดิ (sarcastic, typically exaggerated question) · ru в са́мом де́ле (indicating affirmation, agreement) · de echt (indicating affirmation, agreement) · it dai? (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · ga go fírinneach (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · th จริงหรา (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · uk спра́вді? (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · fi todellako (sarcastic, typically exaggerated question) · bg наистина? (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · ru да? (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · tr harbiden mi? (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · it davvero! (indicating affirmation, agreement) · ml ശരിക്കും (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · is virkilega? (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · ja へえ？ (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · pl naprawdę? (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · fi ihanko totta (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · eo ĉu vere? (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · ja 本当？ (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · yi אַזוי (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · fa واقعاً (sarcastic, typically exaggerated question) · he הֲאֻמְנָם? (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · hu igazán? (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · ru ра́зве? (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · de also wirklich! (indicating displeasure at another person's behaviour) · es ¿de veras? (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · hu ne mondja! (sarcastic, typically exaggerated question) · uz rostdanmi (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · hu igaz (indicating affirmation, agreement) · hil abâ (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · de echt? (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · ru в са́мом де́ле (indicating displeasure at another person's behaviour) · fi oikeasti (indicating displeasure at another person's behaviour) · bg наистина (indicating affirmation, agreement) · cmn 真的？ (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · tr harbiden (indicating affirmation, agreement) · ru да (indicating affirmation, agreement) · de wirklich (indicating affirmation, agreement) · fi totta (indicating affirmation, agreement) · gu હોવે (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · bg нима? (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · fi ihanko totta (sarcastic, typically exaggerated question) · th เออจริง (indicating affirmation, agreement) · hil abâ (indicating displeasure at another person's behaviour) · vi vậy à? (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · hu tényleg (indicating affirmation, agreement) · el πράγματι (indicating affirmation, agreement) · bg така ли (sarcastic, typically exaggerated question) · tl talaga? (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · it davvero? (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · sv jaså? (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · bg в действителност (indicating affirmation, agreement) · ms betulkah? (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · de was Sie nicht sagen (sarcastic, typically exaggerated question) · de auf jeden Fall (indicating affirmation, agreement) · tr öyle mi? (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · de stimmt (indicating affirmation, agreement) · fa واقعاً که! (indicating displeasure at another person's behaviour) · la anne (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · hy լո՞ւրջ (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · uk ді́йсно? (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · fa نه پس (sarcastic, typically exaggerated question) · ja マジ？ (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information) · hu tényleg? (indicating surprise at, or requesting confirmation of, some new information)
really en · VERB · etymology 2
Meanings
(alt-of, alternative) Alternative form of re-ally.
Following the election, those who had publicly opposed Harding hastened to really themselves with Republicans who had remained in the party. 1997, Warren F. Kuehl, Lynne Dunn, Keeping the Covenant: American Internationalists and the League of Nations, 1920-1939, Kent State University Press, →ISBN, page 19:
She wished since long to die and to be reallied with her children in heaven. 1917, German American Annals, page 69: