# true

/ˈtɹu/ (US) · /tɹˈuː/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/true
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. factually correct

adjective · CEFR A1

correct and based on facts rather than being made up.

For teachers: conforming to actual facts or reality; not false.

- Everything she said in the interview was true.
- While the basic premise of the documentary is true, many of the specific details have been simplified for a general audience.

### 2. loyal and faithful

adjective · CEFR B1

staying loyal to a person, a group, or a set of beliefs.

For teachers: steadfast in allegiance or duty; loyal and faithful to a person or principle.

- He has been a true friend to me during this difficult time.
- Throughout the political crisis, she remained true to her convictions despite significant pressure from her peers to compromise.

### 3. genuine or real

adjective · CEFR B1

being the real thing and not a copy or a fake.

For teachers: rightfully so called; possessing the essential characters of the thing named.

- The explorer was a true hero who saved many lives.
- The discovery of the manuscript provided the first true insight into the daily lives of the island's original inhabitants.

### 4. logic/computing

adjective · CEFR B2 · Technical

one of two possible values in logic, usually meaning 'yes' or 'on'.

For teachers: denoting one of the two possible values in Boolean logic, representing an affirmative or positive result.

- The computer program checks if the statement is true or false.
- The function returns a true value only if all the specified conditions within the array are met simultaneously.

### 5. straight or aligned

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

perfectly straight, level, or in the right position.

For teachers: correctly positioned, balanced, or aligned; free from deviation.

- Check that the door frame is true before you tighten the screws.
- The carpenter used a spirit level to ensure the shelving unit was perfectly true before securing it to the wall studs.

### 6. straight and accurately

adverb · CEFR C1 · Literary

moving in a straight line toward a target.

For teachers: in a straight or direct line; accurately toward a mark.

- The arrow flew true and hit the center of the target.
- Despite the heavy crosswinds, the navigator ensured the vessel ran true toward the harbour entrance.

### 7. to align or straighten

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical

to adjust something so that it is straight or in the right place.

For teachers: to bring something into a desired shape, alignment, or position; often used with 'up'.

- The mechanic had to true the bicycle wheel after the accident.
- The technician spent several hours truing up the precision machinery to ensure the components met the required tolerances.

Usage: Often used as the phrasal verb 'true up'.

### 8. proper alignment

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

the state of being perfectly straight or in the right position.

For teachers: the state of being in proper alignment or adjustment.

- The wheels on the old cart were slightly out of true.
- If the foundation is even slightly out of true, the entire structural integrity of the building could be compromised over time.

Usage: Usually appears in the phrase 'out of true'.

## Examples

- Is it true that you are moving to London?
- The witness promised to tell the true story of what happened that night without leaving out any details.
- While the data appears promising, we must conduct further trials to determine if these results represent a true reflection of the drug's efficacy across a broader population.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.