realism

Everyday

1. Seeing and accepting things as they really are and dealing with them sensibly: «a sense of realism». tree →
2. (art, literature) Showing people and things as they really are, in a true-to-life way: «The painting's realism is amazing.» tree →
3. (art history) Realism: an art and writing movement of the 1800s that showed ordinary everyday life honestly. tree →

In the lessons

In art and English lessons realism means life-like pictures and believable stories; in everyday life it means being sensible about what can be done. In video games, realism means graphics that look real. Phrases: «a sense of realism», «with great realism», «realism and hope».

Examples

• The realism of the painting made the fruit look real enough to eat. tree →
• The film's realism made the war scenes hard to watch. tree →
• Some realism is needed: we can't build a pool by Friday. tree →
• The game's realism is amazing; the rain looks real. tree →
• Writers like Dickens used realism to show the lives of the poor. tree →
• Hope is good, but mix it with realism. tree →

Note

Uncountable. Related: real, realist, realistic, reality. Opposites in art: fantasy, abstract art. Being realistic is different from being negative; it means seeing the facts clearly.