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Definition of really adverb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

really

adverb
 
/ˈriːəli/,
 
/ˈrɪəli/
 
/ˈriːəli/
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  1. used to emphasize an adjective or adverb
    • That's a really good idea.
    • It's really hard to find a decent job these days.
    • It all went really well.
    • This is a really nice place.
    • Things are looking really bad for him.
    • It's really important that I speak with her right away.
    • a really hot fire
    • I'm really sorry.
    • She was driving really fast.
  2. used to emphasize something you are saying or an opinion you are giving
    • I really want to go home now.
    • I want to help—I really do.
    • You really need to forget all about her.
    • Now I really must go.
    • I really don't mind.
    • He really likes you.
    • I really enjoyed the film.
    • I really, really hope you're right.
    • I really and truly am in love this time.
    • I really love it here.
    • I am really looking forward to seeing the film.
    Topics Opinion and argumenta1
  3. used to express interest in or surprise at what somebody is saying
    • ‘We're going to Japan next month.’ ‘Oh, really?’
    • ‘She's resigned.’ ‘Really? Are you sure?’
  4. used to say what is actually the fact or the truth about something
    • What do you really think about it?
    • Tell me what really happened.
    • They are not really my aunt and uncle.
    • I can't believe I am really going to meet the princess.
  5. used, often in negative sentences, to reduce the force of something you are saying
    • I don't really agree with that.
    • It doesn't really matter.
    • I don't really know what to expect.
    • ‘Did you enjoy the book?’ ‘Not really(= ‘no’ or ‘not very much’).
    • We’ve done well, really.
    • I don't really have a choice.
    • He never really recovered from the scandal.
    The position of really can change the meaning of the sentence. I don’t really know means that you are not sure about something; I really don’t know emphasizes that you do not know. (Look at sense 2.)
  6. used in questions and negative sentences when you want somebody to say ‘no’
    • Do you really expect me to believe that?
    • I don't really need to go, do I?
    • He doesn't really have a clue about what's going on, does he?
    • Is that how you're really going to do it?
  7. used to show that you think something that somebody has done is bad
    • Really, you could have told us before.
See really in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee really in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English

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