real

real

I

real¹ S1 W1 /rɪəl/ adjective1.  IMPORTANT something that is real exists and is important:
    There is a real danger that the disease might spread.
    We need to tackle the real problems of unemployment and poverty.
    There is no real reason to worry.
2.  NOT ARTIFICIAL something that is real is actually what it seems to be and not false or artificial
   OPP  fake:
    a coat made of real fur
    She had never seen a real live elephant before.
    Artificial flowers can sometimes look better than the real thing.
3.  NOT IMAGINARY something that is real actually exists and is not just imagined:
    The children know that Santa Claus isn’t a real person.
    Dreams can sometimes seem very real.
    Things don’t happen quite that easily in real life.
4. the real world used to talk about the difficult experience of living and working with other people, rather than being protected at home, at school, or at college:
    the shock of leaving university and going out into the real world
5.  TRUE  [only before noun] actual and true, not invented:
    That’s not her real name.
    What was the real reason you quit your job?
6.  FEELINGS a real feeling or emotion is one that you actually experience and is strong
   SYN  genuine:
    There was a look of real hatred in her eyes.
    I got a real sense of achievement when my work was first published.
7.  RIGHT QUALITIES  [only before noun] a real thing has all the qualities you expect something of that type to have:
    I remember my first real job.
    Simon was her first real boyfriend.
     
SPOKEN PHRASES
8.  FOR EMPHASIS  [only before noun] used to emphasize how stupid, beautiful, terrible etc someone or something is:
    Thanks – you’ve been a real help.
    The house was a real mess.
9. for real seriously, not just pretending:
    After two trial runs we did it for real.
10. are you for real? American English used when you are very surprised or shocked by what someone has done or said
11. get real! used to tell someone that they are being very silly or unreasonable
12. keep it real to behave in an honest way and not pretend to be different from how you really are
13.  MONEY  [only before noun] a real increase or decrease in an amount of money is one you calculate by including the general decrease in the value of money over a period of time:
    a real increase of 6% in average wages
    The average value of salaries has fallen in real terms (=calculated in this way).
     

THESAURUS

   ▪ genuine used about a feeling, thing, or person that really is what they seem to be: genuine concern | Experts believe that the painting is genuine. | genuine refugees | a genuine reason for taking time off work | If a student has genuine religious objections to a school activity, they do not have to participate.
   ▪ real not false or artificial: real wood | His real name is Reginald. | It looks just like the real thing. | Are those flowers real or artificial?
   ▪ authentic authentic food, music, clothes etc are correct for the place or the period in history that they are supposed to be from: It’s a friendly restaurant offering authentic Greek food. | authentic medieval instruments | The dancers wore authentic Native American designs.
   ▪ true [only before noun] having all the qualities you would expect a particular type of person or thing to have: a true friend | She is a true professional. | Being a true Red Sox fan, he never missed a game. | True Christians believe that Jesus is the Son of God.
   ▪ bona fide /ˌbəʊnə ˈfaɪdi $ ˈbəʊnə faɪd/ [usually before noun] bona fide people or things are really what they say they are, especially when this can be checked by looking at official documents: a bona fide medical qualification | a bona fide company | This club is only open to bona fide members.
   ▪ hard evidence/facts evidence or facts that are genuine and can be proved: There was no hard evidence to support the theory.

II

real² adverb American English spokenvery:
    He’s real cute.
    It was real nice to see you again.