really

adverb

ˈrē-(ə-)lē How to pronounce really (audio)
Definition of reallynext
1
as in very
in actual fact I'm really sorry I upset you

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in actually
to tell the truth well, really, I'd rather go to the movies than go to dinner

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in definitely
without any question that was really a sweet gesture on your part

Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in extremely
to a great degree really tired after staying up all night

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of really Well, my dad was one of those guys that really liked the Beatles and the Stones. — Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 10 Oct. 2026 The meringue is really a bonus—the blondies are excellent even without it. — Tanya Bush, Bon Appetit Magazine, 10 Oct. 2026 Offensively, the team has put together a really strong passing game. — Outkick, FOXNews.com, 9 Oct. 2026 Sometimes the bigger candies are labeled really well, but the small snack-sized things that come in these big bags can be unlabeled. — Lina Ruiz october 9, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for really
Recent Examples of Synonyms for really
  1. very
  2. actually
  3. definitely
  4. extremely
  5. truly
  6. honestly
  7. certainly
  8. terribly
Adverb
  • The hotel is very grown up, and therefore not exactly relaxing with very young kids (or, at least, not with my kid)—although children are not discouraged.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Thirteen are rated at very high risk or in default, and 23 have no rating from the big agencies, which cuts them from international bond markets.
    — Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of very
Adverb
  • But Hall and Woodford, in separate contributions, set about improving the Keynesian model to take into account how consumers and businesses actually make decisions about whether to invest and spend.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 13 Oct. 2026
  • But actually, the precise challenge was to not treat it as a joke.
    — Annika Pham, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of actually
Adverb
  • Suffice it to say the mystery bullets that landed in Rate Field’s bleachers in 2023 and wounded two women definitely aren’t relevant to this feel-good story but are worth mentioning to remind us how much the Sox narrative has changed.
    — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 9 Oct. 2026
  • And there’s definitely times when people discover something like ‘Chestnut Man’ from the Nordics or ‘Blood of Sacrifice’ from Sweden.
    — Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of definitely
Adverb
  • Experts attribute the extremely warm ocean temperatures that fueled Rachel, which peaked as a Category 3 hurricane, in part to El Niño.
    — Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026
  • All this makes the Home app very easy to use, but extremely underpowered.
    — Jennifer Pattison Tuohy, The Verge, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of extremely
Adverb
  • Best Pop Solo Performance can be a space where the Recording Academy recognizes — and perhaps awards — artists with songs that truly connect with the world, regardless of vocal chops.
    — Jaeden Pinder, Rolling Stone, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Garfield's performance is both hilarious and truly unsettling.
    — Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of truly
Adverb
  • Show how colleagues work together honestly in standups, during escalations and even during the occasional miss.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 6 Oct. 2026
  • On mornings when my face looks puffy (which is, honestly, most mornings), the cooling tip is just what the doctor ordered.
    — Jenny Berg, Vogue, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of honestly
Adverb
  • Next-level attentiveness from friendly staff certainly helps.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Skydance certainly seems interested in moving quickly to bring back certain franchises.
    — Brent Lang, IndieWire, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of certainly
Adverb
  • Susanna Moore is terribly important to us, more so than any of Hemingway’s gallant girls.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Oct. 2026
  • The Nazis employed the V-2 heavily during this time, but the rocket was not terribly accurate.
    — Mike Wall, Space.com, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of terribly

Browse Nearby Words

reallocations
really
realm
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Cite this Entry

“Really.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/really. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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