reality and truth

English translation unavailable for reality and truth.

reality

reality [noun]

the state of things as they are, rather than as they are imagined to be

US /riˈæl.ə.t̬i/ 
UK /riˈæl.ə.ti/ 
Example: 

He escaped from reality by going to the cinema every afternoon.

Oxford Essential Dictionary

reality

 noun (no plural)
the way that something really is, not how you would like it to be:
I enjoyed my holiday, but now it's back to reality.
She looked very confident but in reality she was extremely nervous.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

reality

reality S2 W2 /riˈæləti, riˈælɪti/ BrE AmE noun (plural realities)
[Word Family: noun: ↑realism, ↑realist, ↑reality, ↑unreality, ↑realization; adverb: ↑real, ↑really, ↑realistically ≠ ↑unrealistically; adjective: ↑real, ↑unreal, ↑realistic ≠ ↑unrealistic; verb: ↑realize]
1. [uncountable and countable] what actually happens or is true, not what is imagined or thought:
the distinction between fantasy and reality
TV is used as an escape from reality.
I think the government has lost touch with reality (=no longer understands what is real or true).
political realities
harsh/grim/stark reality
Millions of people live with the harsh realities of unemployment.
the reality is that
The reality is that young people will not go into teaching until salaries are higher.
The paperless office may one day become a reality.
2. in reality used to say that something is different from what people think:
In reality, violent crimes are still extremely rare.
3. [uncountable] the fact that something exists or is happening:
She had never accepted the reality of her pregnancy.
⇨ ↑virtual reality
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ adjectives
the harsh/grim/stark reality (=conditions that are really very bad) We want to protect our children from the harsh reality of our violent world.
political/social/economic realities He's ignoring political realities.
■ verbs
face reality (=accept it) It's painful, but you have to face reality.
confront a reality (=consider or deal with it) They had to confront some unpleasant realities about themselves.
ignore a reality They are ignoring the reality of Arab politics.
wake up to reality (=realize what is happening or real) Well, they need to wake up to reality.
lose touch with reality (=no longer know about ordinary things or what is possible) If all you have is the show-business world, you kind of lose touch with reality.
escape from reality The programmes help viewers escape from reality.
bring somebody back to reality (=make them realize what is happening around them or true) She was brought back to reality by the pain in her ankle.
become a reality (=really happen, after being hoped for, feared, etc by someone) Last June, her longed-for baby finally became a reality.
reflect reality (=match or show what is really happening or true) Do these novels accurately reflect contemporary reality?
bear no relation to reality (=not match what is really happening or true) His vision of European politics bears no relation to reality.
be divorced from reality (=not connected in any way to what is really happening) His ideas are completely divorced from reality.
■ phrases
a dose of reality (=an experience of what things are really like) I got my first dose of reality when I reported to work at my new job.
somebody's grasp of reality (=their understanding of reality) They portrayed her as a sick woman with only a tenuous grasp of reality.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

reality

real·ity [reality realities]   [riˈæləti]    [riˈæləti]  noun (pl. real·ities)
1. uncountable the true situation and the problems that actually exist in life, in contrast to how you would like life to be
She refuses to face reality.
You're out of touch with reality.
• The reality is that there is not enough money to pay for this project.

• They seemed to have the perfect marriage but the reality was very different.

2. countable a thing that is actually experienced or seen, in contrast to what people might imagine
the harsh realities of life
This decision reflects the realities of the political situation.
• The paperless office is still far from being a reality.

• Will time travel ever become a reality?

3. uncountable ~ television/TV/shows/series/contestants television/shows, etc. that use real people (not actors) in real situations, presented as entertainment
a reality TV star
the reality show ‘Big Brother’
see also  virtual reality
Idiom: in reality  
Word Origin:
late 15th cent.: via French from medieval Latin realitas, from late Latin realis ‘relating to things’, from Latin res ‘thing’.  
Thesaurus:
reality noun U
Outwardly she seemed confident but in reality was very nervous.
factthe truthreal lifethe real world
Opp: fantasy
in reality/fact/real life/the real world
face/accept/ignore reality/the fact/the truth 
Example Bank:
He has a rather tenuous grasp of reality.
He has no illusions about the underlying reality of army life.
Her parents always tried to shield her from the realities of the world.
I don't think he understands the reality of the situation.
I don't think you have quite grasped the realities of our situation!
It's our task to make the proposals a reality.
It's time for a reality check: are these goals really achievable?
Most comedy relies on distorting reality.
Most people's ideas of the disease do not have much to do with the reality.
One day her dream will become a reality.
Painters at the time were largely concerned with reproducing external reality.
She will have to face reality sooner or later.
The director creates a believable, gritty reality.
The media portray her as happy and successful, but in reality she has a difficult life.
The movie portrays a kind of alternate reality.
The novel describes the harsh realities of racism and life on the road.
They are out of touch with the realities of modern warfare.
We were faced with the awful reality of having nowhere to live.
a book that captures the reality of life during wartime
the harsh economic realities of life as a student
the practical realities of running a children's home
the use of virtual reality in computer games
• She refuses to face reality.

• You're out of touch with reality.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
 

reality / riˈæl.ɪ.ti /   / -ə.t̬i / noun

B2 [ S or U ] the state of things as they are, rather than as they are imagined to be:

The reality of the situation is that unless we find some new funding soon, the youth centre will have to close.

He escaped from reality by going to the cinema every afternoon.

He seemed very young, but he was in reality (= in fact) older than all of us.

B2 [ C ] a fact:

The book confronts the harsh social and political realities of the world today.

Her childhood ambition became a reality (= happened in fact) when she was made a judge.

© Cambridge University Press 2013

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

reality

[riæ̱lɪti]
 ♦♦
 realities

 1) N-UNCOUNT You use reality to refer to real things or the real nature of things rather than imagined, invented, or theoretical ideas.
 → See also virtual reality
  Fiction and reality were increasingly blurred...
  Psychiatrists become too caught up in their theories to deal adequately with reality.
  Ant:
  fiction
 2) N-COUNT: usu the N of n The reality of a situation is the truth about it, especially when it is unpleasant or difficult to deal with.
  ...the harsh reality of top international competition...
  Other psychoanalysts do accept the reality of child sexual abuse.
 3) N-SING You say that something has become a reality when it actually exists or is actually happening.
  ...the whole procedure that made this book become a reality...
  The reality is that they are poor.
 4) PHRASE: PHR with cl You can use in reality to introduce a statement about the real nature of something, when it contrasts with something incorrect that has just been described.
  He came across as streetwise, but in reality he was not.
  Syn:
  in fact

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary: 

1re·al·i·ty /riˈæləti/ noun, pl -ties
1 [noncount] : the true situation that exists : the real situation
• He refused to face/accept reality. [=the truth]
• the difference between fiction/fantasy and reality
• She's out of touch with reality. [=she does not know what is really true]
• The reality is that we can't afford to buy a house.
• He used television as an escape from reality.
2 [count] : something that actually exists or happens : a real event, occurrence, situation, etc.
• The movie shows the harsh/grim/stark realities of war. [=the things that really happen in a war]
• Her dream of competing in the Olympics became a reality. [=she competed in the Olympics, as she had dreamed of doing]
• They made the plan a reality.
- see also virtual reality
in reality : in truth - used to stress that something is true or real especially when it is different from what was believed or expected
• They talked as if they had accomplished a lot, but in reality they did very little.
In reality, she was 15 years younger than she looked.

truth

truth [noun]

the quality of being true

US /truːθ/ 
UK /truːθ/ 
Example: 

There would seem to be some truth in what she says.

Oxford Essential Dictionary

truth

 noun (no plural)
being true; what is true:
There is no truth in these rumours.
We need to find out the truth about what happened.
Are you telling me the truth?

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

truth

truth S1 W2 /truːθ/ BrE AmE noun
[Word Family: adverb: ↑truly, ↑truthfully ≠ ↑untruthfully, ↑true; noun: ↑truth ≠ ↑untruth, ↑truthfulness; adjective: ↑true ≠ ↑untrue, ↑truthful ≠ ↑untruthful]
[Language: Old English; Origin: treowth 'faithfulness']
1. TRUE FACTS the truth the true facts about something, rather than what is untrue, imagined, or guessed OPP lie, falsehood, untruth:
How do we know you’re telling us the truth?
the truth about
She hoped to find out the truth about her family.
the truth behind
We’ll never know the truth behind what happened.
2. BEING TRUE [uncountable] the state or quality of being true
truth in
There was some truth in the accusations.
grain/element of truth (=small amount of truth)
There wasn’t a grain of truth in what he said.
There was an element of truth (=a small amount of truth) in what he said.
There is no truth in the rumour.
3. IMPORTANT IDEAS [countable usually plural] formal an important fact or idea that is accepted as being true:
The experience has taught us some basic truths.
an unhappy/unpleasant/unwelcome truth (=an unpleasant or disappointing fact)
It is in his interest to hide unhappy truths about his agency’s performance.
4. in truth in fact SYN really:
Early independence leaders were in truth little better than rebels.
5. if (the) truth be known/told used when telling someone the real facts about a situation, or your real opinion:
If the truth be known, I felt a little left out at school.
6. to tell (you) the truth spoken used when giving your personal opinion or admitting something:
To tell the truth, I was frightened to death.
7. nothing could be further from the truth used to say that something is definitely not true
8. the truth will out old-fashioned used to say that even if you try to stop people from knowing something, they will find out in the end
⇨ ↑half-truth, ↑home truth, ⇨ the moment of truth at ↑moment(15)

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

truth

truth [truth truths]   [truːθ]    [truːθ]  noun (pl. truths   [truːðz]  ;   [truːðz]  )
1. the truth singular the true facts about sth, rather than the things that have been invented or guessed
Do you think she's telling the truth?
We are determined to get at (= discover) the truth.
The truth (of the matter) is we can't afford to keep all the staff on.
I don't think you are telling me the whole truth about what happened.
The awful truth about his disappearance finally dawned on her.
It's the gospel truth! (= completely true)

• The sad truth is that, at 72, he is past his prime.

2. uncountable the quality or state of being based on fact
There is no truth in the rumours.
There is not a grain of truth in what she says.
• His version of events does contain an element of truth.

Opp:  falsity

3. countable a fact that is believed by most people to be true
universal truths
She was forced to face up to a few unwelcome truths about her family.
compare  untruth 
see also  half-truth, home truth 
more at bend the truth at  bend  v., economical with the truth at  economical, the moment of truth at  moment
Idioms: if truth be told  in truth  nothing could be further from the truth  tell the truth  truth is stranger than fiction  truth will out  
Word Origin:
Old English trīewth, trēowth ‘faithfulness, constancy’ (see true, -th).  
Example Bank:
Dare anyone deny the truth of what we have said?
Finally the moment of truth will be upon you.
He realized the truth in Adam's words.
He was reminded of his duty to speak the truth when questioned in court.
He was too fragile to handle the truth.
His evidence was a blend of smears, half truths and downright lies.
His explanation has a ring of truth to it.
I know you think she's mean, but nothing could be further from the truth.
I'm sure she's telling the truth.
If the truth be known, I was afraid to tell anyone.
It still doesn't make sense to me— I don't think he's told us the whole truth.
It's a good film but contains little historical truth.
It's time we told him a few home truths about sharing a house.
Lawyers distorted the truth about the deal.
Science, like theology, reveals transcendent truths about a changing world.
She takes everything she reads in the paper as gospel truth.
She was determined to discover the truth about her boss.
She would later find out the truth about her husband.
So now you know the truth.
The awful truth suddenly dawned on her.
The journalist protested that he was only trying to get at the truth.
The police doubt the truth of his statement.
The sad truth is he never loved her.
The simple truth is he's lost his job.
The truth of the matter is we can't afford to keep all the staff on.
There is no truth in the rumour.
There may have been a grain of truth in what he said.
They claim to be the arbiters of sacred truth.
They were motivated by the pursuit of the truth.
To tell you the truth, I'm rather dreading his return.
Towards the end of the letter the cruel truth emerged.
We are examining the matter to see where the truth lies.
We hold these truths to be self-evident…
We're going to try to get the truth out of this boy.
What's the truth behind all the gossip?
You've been hiding the truth from me!
a man on a journey seeking the truth about God and humanity
finding out the truth about her husband
in search of the eternal truths of life
seekers after divine truth
the deeper truths that often go unspoken
the hidden truth behind the events of the last four years
the plain unvarnished truth
• the revealed truth of God

• the shocking truth about heroin addiction among the young

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

truth / truːθ / noun

B2 [ U ] the quality of being true:

There would seem to be some truth in what she says.

There is no truth in the reports of his resignation.

You cannot question the truth of his alibi.

And yet what he says contains at least a grain of (= a small amount of) truth.

 

the truth B1 [ S ] the real facts about a situation, event, or person:

But was he telling the truth?

I don't suppose we'll ever know the truth about what happened that day.

To tell (you) the truth (= speaking honestly) I'm quite pleased he's not coming.

in truth formal used to show or emphasize that something is true:

In truth we feared for her safety although we didn't let it be known.

 

C2 [ C ] formal a fact or principle that is thought to be true by most people:

It would seem to be a general truth that nothing is as straightforward as it at first seems.

The entire system of belief is based on a few simple truths.

Word partners for truth

tell the truth • discover / find out / learn / uncover the truth • confess / reveal the truth • conceal / hide / withhold the truth • the truth comes out / emerges • the truth dawns on sb • the awful / honest / simple / whole truth • an element / grain of truth • the ring of truth • the truth about sb/sth

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

truth

[tru͟ːθ]
 
 truths
 1) N-UNCOUNT The truth about something is all the facts about it, rather than things that are imagined or invented.
  Is it possible to separate truth from fiction?...
  I must tell you the truth about this business...
  The truth of the matter is that we had no other choice...
  In the town very few know the whole truth.
  ...judgements of truth or falsity.
 2) N-UNCOUNT: oft N of/in n If you say that there is some truth in a statement or story, you mean that it is true, or at least partly true.
  There is no truth in this story...
  Is there any truth to the rumors?...
  The criticisms have at least an element of truth and validity.
 3) N-COUNT A truth is something that is believed to be true.
  It is an almost universal truth that the more we are promoted in a job, the less we actually exercise the skills we initially used to perform it.
 4) → See also home truth, moment of truth
 5) PHRASE: PHR with cl You say in truth in order to indicate that you are giving your honest opinion about something.
  In truth, we were both unhappy.
 6) PHRASE: PHR with cl You say to tell you the truth or truth to tell in order to indicate that you are telling someone something in an open and honest way, without trying to hide anything.
  To tell you the truth, I was afraid to see him...
  Truth to tell, John did not want Veronica at his wedding.
  Syn:
  to be honest

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary: 

truth

truth /ˈtruːɵ/ noun, pl truths /ˈtruːðz, ˈtruːɵs/
1 the truth : the real facts about something : the things that are true
• Are you telling (me) the truth?
• At some point you have to face the simple/hard/honest/plain/naked truth that we failed.
• Their explanation was simpler but came closer to the truth.
• The article explains the truth about global warming.
• A reporter soon discovered/revealed/uncovered the truth.
• Do you swear to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth?
• I know you think I don't care, but nothing could be further from the truth. [=that is absolutely not true]
The truth of the matter is (that) you failed the exam and it's going to be reflected in your final grade.
To tell (you) the truth, I liked her first book better than this one. [=I am being honest when I say that I liked her first book better]
• “When was the last time you went to New York?” “To tell you the truth, I don't remember.” [=I have to admit that I don't remember]
• I told her I liked the restaurant but the truth is that the food was pretty bad. = I told her I liked the restaurant but, truth be told/known, the food was pretty bad.
2 [noncount] : the quality or state of being true
• There's no truth in anything he says. [=nothing he says is true]
• I doubt the truth of their accusations. [=I doubt that their accusations are true]
• Her story contains a grain/kernel of truth but also lots of exaggeration.
3 [count] : a statement or idea that is true or accepted as true - usually plural
• Her experience taught her some basic/fundamental/eternal/universal truths about human nature.
• mathematical truths
- see also half-truth, home truth, untruth
bend the truth
- see 1bend
in truth : in fact : actually or really
• She said she was feeling fine, but in truth she was very ill.
moment of truth
- see moment

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