real

modif.

1. Genuine

   true, authentic, original, sincere; see genuine 1, 2.

2. Having physical existence

   actual, solid, firm, substantive, material, live, substantial, existent, tangible, existing, present, palpable, factual, sound, concrete, corporal, corporeal, bodily, incarnate, embodied, physical, sensible, stable, in existence, de facto (Latin), perceptible, evident, undeniable, irrefutable, practical, true, true to life.

   Antonyms unreal*, unsubstantial*, hypothetical. *

3. *Very

   extremely, exceedingly, exceptionally, uncommonly; see very.

real, actual, and true are often used interchangeably to imply correspondence with fact, but in discriminating use, true implies conformity with a standard or model a true democrat or with what actually exists a true story, actual stresses existence or occurrence as opposed to what is possible, likely, or abstract actual and hypothetical examples, and real highlights a distinction between what something is and what a substitute, counterfeit, etc. seems or pretends to be real rubber, real courage

for real*

1. really, actually, in fact, in earnest; see really 1.

2. real, actual, genuine, sincere; see genuine 1, 2.