Real I Claims Adjective ˈriːəl Rɪəl Danger/Risk/Threat/Concern Characters

• a real danger/risk/threat/concern
• all the characters are based on real people.
• it wasn't a ghost; it was a real person.
• pictures of animals, both real and mythological

real

1. actually existing or happening and not imagined or pretended
• a real danger/risk/threat/concern
• All the characters are based on real people.
• It wasn't a ghost; it was a real person.
• pictures of animals, both real and mythological
• In the movies guns kill people instantly, but it's not like that in real life.
• Politicians seem to be out of touch with the real world.
• The growth of violent crime is a very real problem.
• There's no real possibility of them changing their minds.
• We have a real chance of success.
• By the end of it I had a real sense of achievement.

Extra Examples

• That world no longer seemed real to her.
• The possibility of being arrested was frighteningly real.
• real or imagined threats to national security
• the very real danger of war
2. not false or artificial
• Are those real flowers?
• real leather
• Pinocchio wanted to be a real live boy.

Extra Examples

• Real silk is very expensive.
• The pearls looked real enough.
3. actual or true, rather than what appears to be true
• Tell me the real reason.
• The real story is even more amazing.
• Judy Garland's real name was Frances Ethel Gumm.
• The real problem is a lack of investment in infrastructure.
• The real issue was whether the accused knew the goods were stolen.
• The real question here is how he is going to accomplish this.
• See the real Africa on one of our walking safaris.
• I couldn't resist the opportunity to meet a real live celebrity.
• I do my best to hide my real feelings from others.
• The only real complaint I have about the film is that it's a little too slow.
4. having all the important qualities that it should have to deserve to be called what it is called
• She never had any real friends at school.
• his first real kiss
• I had no real interest in politics.
• He was making a real effort to be nice to her.
• These measures have made a real difference to peoples lives
• She has not shown any real regret for what she did.
5. used to emphasize a state or quality
• He looks a real idiot.
• This accident could have produced a real tragedy.
• Her next play was a real contrast.
• This is a real privilege.
• It's been a real challenge, but we're determined to succeed.
• He made a real cock-up of it.
6. when the effect of such things as price rises on the power of money to buy things is included in the sums
• Real wage costs have risen by 10 per cent in the past year.
• The real value of the country's exports has grown little since the 1970s.
• This represents a reduction of 5 per cent in real terms.
7. what somebody claims it is or serious
• This is not a fire drill—it's for real.
• He managed to convince voters that he was for real.
• I don’t think her tears were for real.
8. used to tell somebody that they are behaving in a stupid or unreasonable way
9. to act in an honest and natural way
10. the person who really controls an organization, a country, etc. in contrast to the person who is legally in charge
• The president’s wife was suspected of being the real power behind the throne.
11. something that is what somebody claims it is and that has value, not a copy
• It's an American flying jacket, the real McCoy.
12. actually what somebody claims that something is
• Are you sure it's the real thing (= love), not just infatuation?

Word Origin

• late Middle English (as a legal term meaning ‘relating to things, especially real property’): from Anglo-Norman French, from late Latin realis, from Latin res ‘thing’.