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true

true

∞ 1.0
Recognized as real, for example an owner or heir
  • adjective
  • /tru/
: verdadero
  • The least you can do can bring true change.
  • true self
  • true identity
  • true nature

I'm, I'm a step closer to being my true self today.

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Examples

  • When you're set in your ways, you stay true to yourself.

  • Divine guidance requires true faith.

  • So the same thing can be true of pleasure, right?

  • And I think this is true of all countries.

  • As long as you are true to yourself, your father will always be proud of you.

  • At this stage, they have formed a group, but not yet a true community.

    Academic text (2008)
  • Where there is true love, forgiveness is already there.

  • Businesses frequently miss the true benefits of an integrated strategy for effective corporate engagement.

    Academic text (2008)
  • It is our great honor to have a true hero in our midst.

  • To be a good friend, you must be true and honest with each other.

Synonyms

honest
vstrue
∞ 1.0

Truthful and fair, not cheating or lying

also covers worthiness and loyalty rather than only truthfulness
accurate
vstrue
644 3.0

Exactly correct in every detail

is wider, also applying to loyalty, moral worth, or proper naming
loyal
vstrue
466 1.0

Always supporting a person or group, especially in hard times

can also mean genuine quality or proper entitlement rather than only support
reliable
vstrue
342 2.7

Able to be trusted to do what is expected

also covers moral deservingness and correct identification beyond reliability
sincere
vstrue
236 2.5

Being honest and showing what you really feel

is used more broadly to mean rightful status or reliable character
authentic
vstrue
236 3.8

Something that is real and trustworthy, not a fake

is a wider term that also covers loyalty and rightful claim
genuine
vstrue
140 3.2

Truly felt and not fake, for example a smile or apology

is about broader authenticity or rightful status rather than inner feeling
trustworthy
vstrue
87 2.1

A person or thing you can depend on to be honest

is wider, sometimes meaning rightful status or authentic nature not just trust
rightful
vstrue
81 4.1

Having a legal or moral claim to something

is also used for general authenticity and loyal dependable qualities
dependable
vstrue
43 2.3

A person or thing you can trust to do what they promise

includes proper right or genuine nature as well as simple reliability
trusty
vstrue
36 3.0

Always reliable and useful in many situations

is the broader adjective for loyalty, rightness, or proper designation
true-blue
vstrue
11 6.8

Very loyal and always supporting a person, group, or cause

is more general, covering being real, rightful, or dependable
honest-to-goodness
vstrue
  • Informal
8 7.7

Real and not fake

is the neutral concept covering worthiness and loyal dependability
faithful
vstrue
7 3.2

Exactly like the original work or source

is broader, including rightful status and general dependability beyond accuracy
sure-enough
vstrue
  • Informal
2 8.1

Clearly real and not fake to show you really mean it

is the broader neutral term covering rightful, loyal, or proper cases
truehearted
vstrue
  • Literature
1 6.3

Loyal and steady in support for a person or cause

is broader, applying also to being real or having rightful claim

Antonyms

78 4.1

Not able to be trusted to work or be right

30 4.2

Not supporting or being faithful to people you should support

unworthy
  • Offensive
7 5.4

Deserves strong blame or dislike

Idioms

true that
  • Informal
259 8.1

To say you agree with someone

160 3.2

Faithful and loyal to your partner by not having sex with other people

A thing you wanted for a long time that finally happens

56 5.9

So good that you find it hard to believe

so true
  • Informal
53 6.8

To show you strongly agree with what someone said

tried and true
  • Informal
19 3.4

Known to work well because people used it before

true to form
  • Informal
10 4.1

Happening or acting in the usual way as before

6 4.1

Very similar to real life in looks and detail

1 9.2

To show that something is really true and not a joke

out of true
  • Specialized
1 8.0

Uneven so parts do not fit or move smoothly

1 6.3

To let people see who you really are, often under pressure

big if true
  • Texting
9.2

Something that would be very important if it is true

Compounds

96 2.7

An account of events that really happened

29 2.8

Asking for an answer of true or false

23 4.9

A person's real self, not the face they show others

true colors
  • Informal
21 4.9

The real character a person shows when under pressure

11 6.8

Very loyal and always supporting a person, group, or cause

The real reasons someone has for their actions, often hidden

All the ability a person or thing can reach

A faith people believe is the only correct one compared to other religions

true north
  • Canadian
4 8.6

Canada that people call a symbol of its values and identity

A person who sees what the future could be and creates new ideas

A situation where everyone has the same rights and fair treatment

1 4.2

Very similar to real life and easy to imagine

true bill
  • Jargon
1 9.9

A paper saying a group of citizens found enough evidence to charge someone with a crime

true vocal cord
  • Specialized
1 5.6

A thin piece of tissue in the throat that vibrates to make the voice

A person who plans and organizes complex activities from behind the scenes

true cat
  • Specialized
1 2.7

A small animal like a house cat or wildcat that cannot roar, unlike lions

true bug
  • Specialized
1 8.1

An insect with a thin mouth that pierces and sucks fluids, like a water strider

true rib
  • Specialized
1 5.8

One of the first seven ribs that connects directly to the breastbone

A knot used to join the ends of two ropes so they stay together

true pepper
  • Specialized
1 6.8

A climbing plant from the tropics that makes small round spice seeds used in cooking

Good qualities like honesty, courage, and respect that show a man treats others well

A person who handles difficult talks calmly and keeps peace

true foodie
  • Informal
1 4.6

A person who loves trying new and different foods and restaurants

true bacteria
  • Specialized
1 4.2

A major group of bacteria with firm cell walls, including common kinds that cause disease

true gent
  • Informal
1 7.0

A man who is very polite and kind to others

true toad
  • Specialized
1 8.2

A tailless amphibian with dry, warty skin that lives mostly on land

true frog
  • Specialized
1 5.6

A smooth-bodied animal that lives in water and on land with long back legs and webbed feet

A decorative knot used as a sign of love, often seen in jewelry

1 5.7

Climbing plant with many sweet-smelling white flowers used in perfume and tea

true warbler
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A small active songbird usually brown or grey from Europe, Asia and Africa

true cedar
  • Specialized
1 7.4

A tall evergreen tree of the Cedrus group that grows on high mountains like the Himalayas or Mediterranean

1 5.4

A large sea animal with two big claws that people eat

true satori
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A sudden real moment of deep understanding during meditation

A person who knows and appreciates fine art, music and food

true fungus
  • Specialized
1 7.0

A living thing like a mushroom or mold with cell walls made of chitin that makes spores

true anomaly
  • Specialized
1 9.9

An angle you measure along the path around a planet or star from the closest point

true dwarf
  • Archaic
1 9.8

A person who is very short because of a gene problem but with normal body shape and mind

true fir
  • Specialized
1 6.7

A tall evergreen tree with needle leaves and upright cones often used as a Christmas tree

1 9.9

A small shrub with bell-shaped flowers found in Europe and Africa

1 8.5

A person who collects old broken things and fixes them for fun

true bayard
  • Archaic
9.9

A person who shows great courage and honesty

A rude, insulting slang word for a disliked person from Connecticut

true beardo
  • Slang
9.6

A man who proudly cares for and styles his beard

A bush that grows sweet black or dark purple berries you can eat

A person who travels to many countries around the world

true glottis
  • Specialized
8.8

The space between the two vocal cords in the voice box

A small tree from warm places that makes sweet round yellow fruit

true flapper
  • Archaic
9.9

A young woman in the 1920s with short hair, bold makeup, and lively, daring style

true flycatcher
  • Specialized
9.1

A small bird that catches insects while flying

A small evergreen tree from the Mediterranean with glossy fragrant leaves used to flavor food and for wreaths

A decorative knot design that shows love and loyalty in jewelry

9.9

A loyal friend or partner who always supports you

9.9

A person from Sunderland who strongly supports the local football team

A tree from the Caribbean that gives deep brown, strong wood used for furniture

true pine
  • Specialized
6.4

A tree in the Pinus group that has long needles and cones

true marmoset
  • Specialized
9.8

A small South American monkey with soft fur that often has twins and is not a tamarin

true sandalwood
  • Australian
9.1

A tree that grows on other plants in Indonesia and Malaysia with yellow, fragrant wood that repels insects

true seal
  • Specialized
6.5

A sea mammal without visible ears, with fur and back flippers for swimming

true senna
  • Specialized
8.0

A shrub with yellow flowers whose dried leaves help people with constipation

true slime mold
  • Specialized
9.6

A soft mass of many cells that moves like an amoeba and feeds on decaying plants

true puffball
  • Specialized
9.3

A round mushroom that releases a cloud of spores when you touch it

A man who shows deep love and does dramatic, romantic things

true sago palm
  • Australian
8.9

A palm tree whose trunk gives a starchy food used for cooking

true tulipwood
  • Specialized
9.0

Light, easy to work wood from the tulip tree used for furniture and veneers

true vampire bat
  • Specialized
9.2

A bat from tropical America that drinks the blood of animals like cows and birds

true Whiggamore
  • Archaic
9.9

A person who strongly supports a political party, especially the Whiggamores

A very skilled violin player like Yehudi Menuhin

true vocal fold
  • Specialized
7.0

Thin bands of tissue in the voice box that vibrate to make voice when air passes between them

How Genuine

authentic
236 3.8
genuine
140 3.2
true
∞ 1.0
dubious
88 6.5
false
155 2.8

Surface Forms

true positive

Etymology

True comes from the old word trēowe meaning 'faithful', the same idea behind truth and trust. That's why a 'true' owner is the real, rightful one you can rely on.