real

True or actual, rather than only seeming to be true.

• The danger is real.
• She explained the real reason for leaving.
• These changes brought real benefits to local families.

Similar words: actual, true, genuine

Opposites: apparent, false

Common phrases: real problem, real danger, real reason

Made from the genuine material, or truly what it claims to be.

• This ring is real gold.
• She bought a bag made of real leather.
• Are those real flowers or plastic ones?

Similar words: genuine, authentic

Opposites: fake, artificial

Common phrases: real leather, real gold, real flowers

Existing in the world, rather than only in someone's mind or a story.

• That animal is real.
• The character was based on a real person.
• As a child, I thought dragons were real.

Similar words: existing, actual

Opposites: imaginary, fictional

Common phrases: real person, real world, real animal

Describing any number that can be placed on a number line, including whole numbers, fractions, and numbers like pi.

• Five is a real number.
• This equation has two real roots.
• Every point on this line represents a real number.

Common phrases: real number, real root, real value

Very; used to make a description stronger.

• It's real cold outside.
• She ran real fast to catch the bus.
• He got real angry when he heard the news.

How to use it: real + adjective/adverb (The children were real quiet.)

Similar words: very, really

Common phrases: real good, real nice, real fast