reality Meaning & Definition
What Does Reality Mean?
Reality is a noun that means the quality or state of being real. It is also used to mean a real event, entity, or state of affairs.
Quick Facts About Reality
| Part of speech | noun |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /rē-ˈa-lə-tē/ |
| Syllables | 4 |
| Synonyms | world, realism and realness |
| Antonyms | irreality, unreality and fantasy |
| Plural | realities |
| First known use | 1513 |
Reality Definition (Noun)
- the quality or state of being real
- a real event, entity, or state of affairs
his dream became a reality
- the totality of real things and events
trying to escape from reality
- something that is neither derivative nor dependent but exists necessarily
- television programming that features people (especially people who are not professional actors) dealing with real-life situations or participating in contrived activities (such as competitions)
I for one am rooting for anything that stems the rising tide of reality on television. / … it's a tough choice between The Voice and Dancing With the Stars. … If reality means nothing to you, then you're faced with a medical drama, a superhero drama and comedies.
Synonyms of Reality
Antonyms of Reality
Reality in a Sentence
The reality of the crash scene on TV dawned upon him only when he saw the victim was no actor but his friend.
The ultimate reality of life is that it ends in death.
There are several new realities that this team now needs to accept: our old project is dead, and our new project is now the priority.
a foray into reality programming
his dream became a reality
trying to escape from reality
I for one am rooting for anything that stems the rising tide of reality on television.
… it's a tough choice between The Voice and Dancing With the Stars. … If reality means nothing to you, then you're faced with a medical drama, a superhero drama and comedies.
the ambition to make his dreams a reality
no one denies the reality of electricity, though few people understand it fully
the reality of the situation finally dawned on her and she sat down in stunned silence
you'll need to cope with a whole new set of realities once you've become a parent
I for one am rooting for anything that stems the rising tide of reality on television. / … it's a tough choice between The Voice and Dancing With the Stars. … If reality means nothing to you, then you're faced with a medical drama, a superhero drama and comedies.
Word Forms & Grammar
re·al·i·ties
realities
reality
reality TV
reality TV/television
reality show
reality shows
reality television
reality (usually uncountable, plural realities)
Words That Rhyme With Reality
Origin of Reality
From French réalité (“quality of being real”), from Middle French realité (“property, possession”), from Medieval Latin reālitās, from Late Latin reālis (“real”), equivalent to real + -ity. Recorded since 1550 as a legal term in the sense of “fixed property” (compare real estate, realty); the sense “real existence” is attested from 1647. First attested in c. 1540.
First Known Use
circa 1513
How Do You Say Reality?
Reality is pronounced /rē-ˈa-lə-tē/ and has 4 syllables, with the main stress on the second syllable (a).
Quick Answers About Reality
What part of speech is reality?
Reality is a noun.
What is another word for reality?
You can replace reality with words such as world, realism and realness. See the full list of reality synonyms and antonyms.
What is the opposite of reality?
The opposite of reality can be expressed with words like irreality, unreality, fantasy and fiction.
What is the plural of reality?
The plural of reality is realities.