Word.ws English Dictionary

real-ly

/ˈɹil.li/

real-ly is the alternative form of really.

Meaning of really

Adverb

really (comparative more really, superlative most really)

  1. (literal) In a way or manner that is real, not unreal.
    • We are to believe that by an extraordinary Conception by Means of the holy Ghost he in an extraordinary MANNER, (unknown to us) really assumed Flesh, and was by her nourished in the Womb and in due Time born in a natural Manner, and that whilst on Earth he was really hungry, and dry, and eat and...1751, John Roche, Moravian Heresy, page 168
  2. (modal) Actually; in fact; in reality.
    • "He really is a true friend." / "Really? What makes you so sure?"
    Synonyms:
    actually
  3. (informal) Very (modifying an adjective); very much (modifying a verb).
    • But ma, I really, really want to go to the show!

See all 8 meanings of really

Forms of real-ly

comparativemore real-ly
superlativemost real-ly

Origin of real-ly

The suffix is hyphenated to better distinguish the literal-meaning adverb from the intensifier really.

Questions about real-ly

What is real-ly the alternative form of?
Real-ly is the alternative form of really.
How do you pronounce real-ly?
Real-ly is pronounced /ˈɹil.li/.

Words near real-ly in the dictionary

  1. real-estate tax
  2. real-estate taxes
  3. real-life
  4. real-life experience
  5. real-life experiences
  6. real-ly
  7. real-person fiction
  8. real-time
  9. real-time attack
  10. real-time attacks
  11. real-time strategy

Source and license

Adapted from Wiktionary: real-ly (page history and authors); really (page history and authors). Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws reformatted the entry and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.

Last updated:

Cite this entry: “real-ly.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/real-ly. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.