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reality

reality

333 3.6
How someone sees or understands the world because of their life and experience
  • noun
  • /riˈælɪti/
translation icon : realidad
  • For these students, connections between these class activities and the realities of the future they desire are quite direct.
  • subjective reality
  • social reality
  • cultural realities

They say, well if you have your reality, then I have mine, right?

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Examples

  • You know, that's not the reality for most people.

  • Whitaker & Associates is the most qualified financial organization to bring your astonishing vision to reality.

  • Sign here... ...and make your dream a reality.

  • Now, back to Earth and the realities of here and now.

  • But we can't hide from the tragic realities of the world.

  • The documentary explores the impact of social media on our perception of reality.

  • For many artists, their work challenges the traditional concept of reality.

  • Understanding different viewpoints can help us appreciate the diverse aspects of reality.

Synonyms

world
vsreality
4.8

A person's own life, feelings, and view of things

describes how things appear to people because of their experiences

Antonyms

199 6.7

A strong false belief that someone still has even when it is not true

Idioms

190 3.3

Shows what is true rather than how things appear

Notice the true situation after ignoring or misunderstanding it

To make people feel that reality is broken and strange

Compounds

virtual reality
  • Specialized
29 4.5

A world made by a computer that you can look around, move in, and touch with special goggles or gloves

reality check
  • Informal
26 3.9

An experience that makes you see the true situation

11 4.4

A difficult truth you must accept

TV shows that follow real people, not actors, in situations that are not planned

reality challenged
  • Offensive
1 9.1

Not aware of what is true or likely to happen

1 9.3

A situation where a person's charm makes others ignore real problems

1 8.9

Part of the mind that makes you act to meet needs in the real world rather than wishes

How Subjective

illusion
319 4.6
interpretation
314 4.4
perception
400 4.2
reality
333 3.6
reality
1.4
fact
1.0

Surface Forms

reality singular
realities plural

Morphology

reality = real (semi-transparent) = real + ity

The formation is regular (real + -ity), but this sense extends to subjective or perspectival senses of 'what is real for someone', which is a pragmatic extension learners may not infer automatically.

Etymology

Reality comes from the Latin res ('thing') and the word real, which is about things that exist. Because it began as 'the things' in the world, reality can also mean the world as each person sees it, shaped by their life and ideas.