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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Reality: Definition, Examples, and How to Use It (3 meaning)

Meaning 1：actual state of things (reality)

reality 🔊

/riˈælɪti/

The way things really are in the world, often contrasting with hopes or dreams.

Reality of job search stress with bills and vacation poster

actual state of things 🔊

➕

/ˈæktʃuəl steɪt əv θɪŋz/

The way things actually exist, as opposed to how we wish they were.

📁 Category：School Education 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'res' (thing) + '-alitas' (suffix forming nouns of state).

💡 Mnemonic

REAL things exist; I can touch and see them - that's REALity.

📖 Example

The reality is that he needs to finish his homework before playing video games. 🔊 The reality is that he needs to finish his homework before playing video games.

🔗 Collocations

face reality – to accept the true situation

become reality – to actually happen

escape from reality – to avoid dealing with the real world

🔄 Synonyms

truth (n.) – the real facts about something

actuality (n.) – the state of existing in fact

fact (n.) – a thing that is known to be true

🚫 Antonyms

fantasy (n.) – imagination or illusion

fiction (n.) – something invented or imagined

🌱 Derivatives

real (adj.) – actually existing

realize (v.) – to become aware of reality

realist (n.) – a person who accepts reality

📖 Cultural Story

Reality derives from Latin 'realitas', coined by medieval philosophers from 'res' (thing). It entered English via French in the 16th century, referring to the actual state of things.

Meaning 2：quality of being real (reality)

reality 🔊

/riˈælɪti/

The quality of being real, genuine, or not imagined.

Reality comparison between oil painting and real fruit bowl

quality of being real 🔊

➕

/ˈkwɑːləti əv ˈbiːɪŋ riːl/

The quality of appearing or being genuine, not artificial.

📁 Category：Entertainment & Sports 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

The movie used special effects so well that it created a strong sense of reality. 🔊 The movie used special effects so well that it created a strong sense of reality.

🔗 Collocations

sense of reality – feeling that something is real

virtual reality – simulated environment

grip on reality – ability to distinguish what is real

🔄 Synonyms

authenticity (n.) – the quality of being genuine

verisimilitude (n.) – the appearance of being true or real

realness (n.) – the state of being real

🚫 Antonyms

artificiality (n.) – the quality of being made by humans, not natural

unreality (n.) – the state of not being real

🌱 Derivatives

realistic (adj.) – resembling reality

realism (n.) – artistic movement depicting reality

Meaning 3：objective existence (reality)

reality 🔊

/riˈælɪti/

The state of things as they actually exist, independent of what we think or feel.

objective existence 🔊

➕

/əbˈdʒɛktɪv ɪɡˈzɪstəns/

The state of things as they actually exist independently of perception.

📁 Category：Language Evolution 🔖 Level：Advanced

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

Scientists and philosophers have long debated the nature of reality itself. 🔊 Scientists and philosophers have long debated the nature of reality itself.

🔗 Collocations

objective reality – reality independent of mind

perception of reality – how one interprets reality

alternate reality – a hypothetical version of reality

🔄 Synonyms

existence (n.) – the fact of being real

being (n.) – the nature of existence

substance (n.) – the real physical matter

🚫 Antonyms

illusion (n.) – a false perception

nothingness (n.) – the state of not existing

🌱 Derivatives

real (adj.) – existing in fact

realize (v.) – to understand reality