# veritable

/ˈvɛɹɪtəbəɫ/ (US) · /vˈɛɹɪtəbəl/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/veritable
Updated: 2026-05-11

## Definition

used to emphasize that something is so impressive or large that it is almost unbelievable. It is like saying 'real' or 'true' to make a description stronger.

For teachers: used as an intensifier to emphasize the figurative truth of a description, often before a metaphor. Typically used attributively before a noun.

## Examples

- The garden was a veritable paradise of colorful flowers.
- After the heavy rains, the small stream transformed into a veritable river that flooded the nearby fields.
- The archive serves as a veritable gold mine for historians, containing thousands of previously unseen letters that detail the daily lives of ordinary citizens during the revolution.

## Usage notes

- Typically used attributively before a noun to emphasize a metaphor.

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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.