How to use really in a sentence
40 example sentences · adverb, interjection
Really means in a way or manner that is real, not unreal. Example: “But ma, I really, really want to go to the show!”
Examples of really by meaning
adverbIn a way or manner that is real, not unreal.
- Thus Brahman must be described as ‘really real’, while a rope, or a person, or God Himself, is ‘unreally real’.1975, Robin H. S. Boyd, An introduction to Indian Christian theology, page 48
adverbVery (modifying an adjective); very much (modifying a verb).
- But ma, I really, really want to go to the show!
- The young priests who lived here wore cassocks and birettas; their faces were fine and mild, yet really strong, like the rector's face; and in their intercourse with him and his wife they seemed to be brothers.1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter X, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC
- There was also hairdressing: hairdressing, too, really was hairdressing in those times — no running a comb through it and that was that.1977, Agatha Christie, chapter 4, in An Autobiography, part II, London: Collins, →ISBN
interjectionA phatic confirmation by a listener, to signal active listening; mostly devoid of literal meaning, with the phatically...
- B: Really? What's he been up to?
- "Literally" is not the only word that has lost touch with reality: look at "really." That word also was meant to describe a state of reality, or literalness.1979 November 4, William Safire, “On Language [column]”, in New York Times
interjectionIndicating affirmation, agreement.
- B: Really. She's a nightmare.
interjectionIndicating displeasure at another person's behaviour or statement.
- Well, really! How rude.
More sentences with really
- Tomorrow's Thursday, but I have Friday and Saturday off, so really it's my Friday.From the entry Friday
- I think that red dress looks really good on you, but your mileage may vary, of course.From the entry your mileage may vary
- We really hit it off on the first date, so we decided to meet the week after.From the entry date
- I don't know what it is, but this music really sends me.From the entry send
- Another unsolicited maths take: talking about quotients in terms of "equivalence classes" or cosets is really unnatural.From the entry take
- Don’t just talk at someone; really listen to what they have to say.From the entry at
- I really need to get into the habit of writing down what I spend.From the entry habit
- I look really bad whenever I get less than seven hours of sleep.From the entry bad
- I could hear them quarreling upstairs, but didn’t really listen to their argument.From the entry hear
- I could hear you talking upstairs, but I didn’t really listen to your conversation.From the entry listen
- For homeowners with adjustable rate mortgages, rising interest will really bite.From the entry bite
- "I really want to sing in the school choir," said Vera.From the entry sing
- They really laughed when he did Clinton, with a perfect accent and a leer.From the entry do
- It felt really strange to be back in my old kindergarten.From the entry feel
- I know it's a bit of a cliché, but love really does conquer all.From the entry cliché
- There really is no comparison between the performance of today's computers and those of a decade ago.From the entry comparison
- If you're not careful, someone will sell you silverware that's really only silver plate.From the entry plate
- I really can’t stomach jobs involving that much paperwork, but some people seem to tolerate them.From the entry stomach
- Dealing with complaints isn't really my domain: get in touch with customer services.From the entry domain
- I really got a kick out of that clown's juggling act.From the entry get a kick out of
- I'm holding on to my trump cards until I really need them.From the entry hold on
- The tank contains unfiltered water. You really shouldn't drink from that.From the entry tank
- We looked over the house; downstairs was spacious, but upstairs really cramped.From the entry downstairs
- I've always been a healthy, fit woman, but right now I really don't feel very well.From the entry well
- This town is really dangerous because these youngsters have Beretta handguns.From the entry town
- It really steams me to see her treat him like that.From the entry steam
- I had a really bad car accident, and thence came all my backpains.From the entry thence
- I regret that it should have happened, but I was really shocked that he should say that.From the entry should
- I think he could do it if he really wanted to.From the entry could
- I said it must be pretty late and I really must go.From the entry must
- Both auditionees had great ranges but Diamond had the strong belt we really need for the finale.From the entry belt
- This shop is not really geared towards people of our age.From the entry gear
Meaning of really
- adverb In a way or manner that is real, not unreal.
- adverb Actually; in fact; in reality.
- adverb Very (modifying an adjective); very much (modifying a verb).
Questions about really in a sentence
- How do you use really in a sentence?
- Really is used as an adverb and interjection. For example: “But ma, I really, really want to go to the show!”
- What is a short sentence with really?
- “Well, really! How rude.”
- What does really mean?
- Really means in a way or manner that is real, not unreal.
Source and license
Adapted from Wiktionary: really (page history and authors) and the entries each sentence comes from. Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws chose the sentences, left out offensive ones and quotations older than 1900, and marked the word in each. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.
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Cite this page: “How to use really in a sentence.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/sentences/really. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.