really

Everyday

1. In fact, truly: «Is it really true?» tree →
2. Very: «really hot». tree →
3. Used to show surprise or doubt: «Really?» tree →
4. Used to make a statement softer or stronger: «I don't really like it.» tree →
5. (casual) «Really?!» or «srsly» (texting) is annoyed surprise: you can't be serious. tree →
6. (casual, sarcastic) «Oh, really?» means I don't believe you; «Really, Tom?» means I am disappointed in you. tree →
7. (casual, UK) «Not really» is a polite soft no. tree →
8. (formal) «Genuinely», «indeed», «in fact», «exceedingly» and «considerably» are stiff words for really. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday talk, «really» adds strength or asks if something is true. In reading, «Really?» shows a character's surprise. In science: what really happens versus what seems to happen. In casual talk: «really?!», «srsly», «not really». In the exam voice: «indeed», «in fact», «considerably greater». Phrases: not really, really and truly, really?, I really mean it.

Examples

• It's really cold today. tree →
• Did you really see a whale? tree →
• «I won!» «Really?» tree →
• I don't really like broccoli. tree →
• She really wants a puppy. tree →
• What really happened? tree →
• That was really kind of you. tree →
• The sun doesn't really move; the Earth spins. tree →
• srsly?? only 2 cookies left out of 12? (casual) tree →
• «I did my homework.» «Oh, really? Show me.» (sarcastic) tree →
• Really? You broke it again? Bloody hell. (rough) tree →
• The second quantity is considerably greater than the first; determine by how much. (formal exam) tree →
• I really cannot squeeze myself through!” tree →

Note

Two l's: «really». «Not really» means «not much» or a soft «no». In writing, «really» + adjective is fine, but try stronger words sometimes: «freezing» instead of «really cold». «Really?» can be real surprise or doubt — read the tone. Formal «considerably» = really (a lot); «indeed» = really (truly). It does not change the numbers.

In Jewish tradition

In everyday talk, «really» adds strength or asks if something is true. In reading, «Really?» shows a character's surprise. In science: what really happens versus what seems to happen. In casual talk: «really?!», «srsly», «not really». In the exam voice: «indeed», «in fact», «considerably greater». Phrases: not really, really and truly, really?, I really mean it.

Examples

• AL ChI H OULMIM; ''the Living God of Ages," here the word God really is in the singular. (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893) tree →
• The whole (arly history of Pythagoreanism is therefore conjectural, and all we really know of the school is what wc are told by Aristotle". (Mordell, The Origin of Letters and Numerals according to Sefer Yetzirah (1914)) tree →
• In spite of the numerous works written on Hebrew orthography since the beginning of the tenth century, there is not one which may be considered as really based on the Hebrew. (Mordell, The Origin of Letters and Numerals according to Sefer Yetzirah (1914)) tree →

Note

Two l's: «really». «Not really» means «not much» or a soft «no». In writing, «really» + adjective is fine, but try stronger words sometimes: «freezing» instead of «really cold». «Really?» can be real surprise or doubt — read the tone. Formal «considerably» = really (a lot); «indeed» = really (truly). It does not change the numbers.