really

really
[[t]ri͟ːəli[/t]]
♦
1) ADV: usu ADV with v (emphasis) You can use really to emphasize a statement. [SPOKEN]

I'm very sorry. I really am...

It really is best to manage without any medication if you possibly can...

I really do feel that some people are being unfair...

You know, we really ought to get another car...

I'm fine, really I'm fine.

2) ADV: ADV adj/adv (emphasis) You can use really to emphasize an adjective or adverb.

It was really good...

They were really nice people...

I know her really well.

Syn:
3) ADV: usu ADV with v, also ADV adj You use really when you are discussing the real facts about something, in contrast to the ones someone wants you to believe.

My father didn't really love her...

What was really going on?...

You make them feel that it was their decision when it wasn't really.

4) ADV: ADV before v (emphasis) People use really in questions and negative statements when they want you to answer `no'.

Do you really think he would be that stupid?...

You can't really expect me to believe you didn't know him.

Syn:
honestly, actually
5) ADV: ADV before v (emphasis) If you refer to a time when something really begins to happen, you are emphasizing that it starts to happen at that time to a much greater extent and much more seriously than before.

That's when the pressure really started...

He only really started going out with girls at college.

6) ADV: ADV after neg, usu ADV with v, also ADV with cl (vagueness) People sometimes use the word really to slightly reduce the force of a negative statement. [SPOKEN]

I'm not really surprised...

`Did they hurt you?' - `Not really'...

I didn't really notice what I was eating...

I don't think that's very fair really.

7) ADV: ADV with cl (vagueness) People sometimes add really to statements in order to make them less definite and more uncertain. [SPOKEN]

She is a quiet girl really...

I'm happy most of the time, really.

8) ADV: ADV with cl (feelings) People use the word really to show that they are surprised or that the person they are speaking to may be surprised about something. [mainly BRIT, SPOKEN]

Actually it was quite good really...

I was really rather fond of Arthur.

9) CONVENTION (feelings) You can say really to express surprise or disbelief at what someone has said. [SPOKEN]

`We discovered it was totally the wrong decision.' - `Really?'...

`We saw a very bright shooting star.' - `Did you really?'

10) CONVENTION You can say `really' in a conversation to show that you are interested in what someone is saying.

`We had a very interesting chat.' - `Really? About what?'

11) EXCLAM (feelings) Some people say really when they are slightly annoyed or offended by something. [BRIT, SPOKEN]

Really, Mr Riss, I expected better of you.


English dictionary. 2008.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?
Synonyms:
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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Really — Re al*ly (r[=e] al*l[y^]), adv. In a real manner; with or in reality; actually; in truth. [1913 Webster] Whose anger is really but a short fit of madness. Swift. [1913 Webster] Note: Really is often used familiarly as a slight corroboration of an …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Really — Album par J.J. Cale Sortie 30 novembre 1972 Enregistrement Avril à juillet 1972 Durée 30:55 Genre Rock Producteur Audie Ashworth …   Wikipédia en Français

  • really — c.1400, originally in reference to the presence of Christ in the Eucharist, from REAL (Cf. real) (adj.) + LY (Cf. ly) (2). Sense of actually is from early 15c. Purely emphatic use dates from c.1600; interrogative use (oh, really?) is first… …   Etymology dictionary

  • really — [rē′ə lē, rē′lē] adv. [ME rialliche: see REAL1 & LY2] 1. in reality; in fact; actually 2. truly or genuinely [a really hot day] interj. indeed: used to express surprise, irritation, doubt, etc …   English World dictionary

  • Really — Re al*ly (r[=a] [aum]l*l[=e] ), adv. Royally. [Obs.] Chaucer. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • really — index purely (positively) Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • really — [adv] without a doubt absolutely, actually, admittedly, as a matter of fact, assuredly, authentically, beyond doubt, categorically, certainly, de facto, easily, for real*, genuinely, honestly, in actuality, indeed, indubitably, in effect, in fact …   New thesaurus

  • really — ► ADVERB 1) in reality; in actual fact. 2) very; thoroughly. ► EXCLAMATION 1) expressing interest, surprise, doubt, or protest. 2) chiefly US expressing agreement …   English terms dictionary

  • really — adverb 1 THE REAL SITUATION used when you are saying what is actually the truth of a situation, rather than what people might wrongly think: What really happened? | Oliver was not really her cousin. | You are pretending to be annoyed, but you re… …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • really — real|ly W1S1 [ˈrıəli] adv ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1¦(very)¦ 2¦(the real situation)¦ 3¦(definitely)¦ 4¦(not true)¦ 5 6 not really 7 should/ought really 8 really and truly ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1.) ¦(VERY)¦ …   Dictionary of contemporary English

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