ENGLISH
REFERENCE

really

adv. degree
A1 Beginner Oxford US //ˈɹiɫi// UK //ɹˈiəli// re·al·ly General-service Informal

adv. very much or truly. You use this to make an adjective stronger or to say that something is a fact.

adv. used to emphasize an adjective, adverb, or verb; also used to assert the truth or reality of a statement.


SIMPLE

I am really tired after work today.

CONTEXTUAL

The movie was really long, but the ending was so exciting that nobody minded the three-hour runtime.

COMPLEX

While the proposal sounds good in theory, we need to determine if the company really possesses the resources to execute such an ambitious plan.

Synonyms
Etymology 1

From Middle English really, realy, rialliche, equivalent to real + -ly.

Etymology 2

From re- + ally.

Usage

As a degree adverb, it typically precedes the adjective or adverb it modifies; when emphasizing a verb, it usually sits before the main verb.

Pitfall

It is a really problem.It is a real problem.Learners often use the adverb 'really' to modify a noun, but the adjective 'real' is required in this position.

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