reality

noun

rē-ˈa-lə-tē How to pronounce reality (audio)
Definition of realitynext
1
as in case
something that actually exists the ambition to make his dreams a reality

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in existence
the fact of being or of being real no one denies the reality of electricity, though few people understand it fully

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in fact
the quality of being actual the reality of the situation finally dawned on her and she sat down in stunned silence

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in object
one that has a real and independent existence you'll need to cope with a whole new set of realities once you've become a parent

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of reality And as reality competition shows exploded with Survivor, Big Brother, and Amazing Race, I was glued to my screen. — Staff Author, EW.com, 22 Mar. 2025 Paul has a reality TV show coming out that features him and his brother Logan, which will release on the streaming platform MAX on March 27. — Ryan Canfield, Fox News, 22 Mar. 2025 Maybe there is something magical about reality, something beyond interpolation and extrapolation. — Jaron Lanier, The New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2025 Open to the public, the L.A. collection includes comedy, drama, entertainment, sports, news, public affairs, documentary, performing arts, reality, animation, and children’s and family programming. — Peter White, Deadline, 21 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for reality
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reality
  1. case
  2. existence
  3. fact
  4. object
  5. truth
  6. entity
  7. substance
  8. thing
Noun
  • The initial case which led to Abelson's injunction was brought by the Baltimore Mayor and city council, along with a number of organizations including the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education.
    — Mark Davis, Newsweek, 15 Mar. 2025
  • This may not have been the original plan with Starfield, and Microsoft said as much back during its court case about the Activision acquisition.
    — Paul Tassi, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2025
Definition of case
Noun
  • The researchers ruled out the existence of other planets within the habitable zone of Barnard's Star. MORE: Parade of planets this month will feature celestial bodies in alignment The planets are difficult to detect because their stars shine so brightly next to them, the researchers said.
    — Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 18 Mar. 2025
  • Assyrians continue to face systematic dispossession as well as threats against their existence in their homeland.
    — David Faris, Newsweek, 17 Mar. 2025
Definition of existence
Noun
  • The downturn in web visits may reflect the fact that the website has not been regularly updated—there have been only a dozen or so press releases posted since the season opened.
    — Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025
  • Chatter surrounding Hilaria's heritage emerged in December 2020, when social media users alleged that her Spanish roots were fabricated by pointing to the fact that she was born in Boston, Mass., with the birth name Hilary.
    — Shania Russell, EW.com, 17 Mar. 2025
Definition of fact
Noun
  • The Good & Gather Cut Green Beans were initially recalled due to possible contamination from a foreign object.
    — Julia Landwehr, Health, 20 Mar. 2025
  • The team wants to determine whether the galaxy and its rapid evolution are truly unique, or if there are more like it in the early universe since a single celestial object is not enough to establish a new model of galaxy formation, Carniani said.
    — Ashley Strickland, CNN, 20 Mar. 2025
Definition of object
Noun
  • Climate change is an inconvenient truth that cannot be ignored or denied.
    — Anjali Chaudhry, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025
  • Middle age usually brings a measure of wisdom, as men cast aside aspirations of youth and come to terms with hard truths.
    — Ray Takeyh, National Review, 22 Mar. 2025
Definition of truth
Noun
  • And yet the funding bill passed by Congress and signed into law by Trump earlier this month included $535 million for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the entity that disburses funds to 1,500 local radio and TV stations.
    — Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 2025
  • Dollar Tree, an excellent operator, bought Family Dollar, a terrible entity, for almost $9 billion a decade ago.
    — Jim Cramer, CNBC, 26 Mar. 2025
Definition of entity
Noun
  • In the Great Plains, tribal leaders are able to fund care for substance abuse—a problem that Native Americans have historically faced—and food assistance programs.
    — Solcyré Burga, TIME, 21 Mar. 2025
  • For example, the drug court model positions the criminal justice system to connect individuals with substance use disorder to life-saving treatment and social services.
    — Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 21 Mar. 2025
Definition of substance
Noun
  • Other than making music, my go-to thing was riding bikes.
    — Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 18 Mar. 2025
  • However, things are smooth sailing for the couple as they were spotted having dinner with friends in New York City at Crane Club just days before the awards ceremony.
    — Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 18 Mar. 2025
Definition of thing

Phrases Containing reality

Browse Nearby Words

realities
reality
realizable
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Reality.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reality. Accessed 29 Mar. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on reality

Nglish: Translation of reality for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about reality

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Words You Always Have to Look Up

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Top 10 Sophisticated Insults

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden

More Words with Remarkable Origins

Terroir, Oenophile, & Magnum: Ten Words About Wine

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Top 10 Sophisticated Insults

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
burrowing owl athene cunicularia tilts its head outside its burrow on marco island florida
Guess the Curious Origins of These Everyday Words Oh, that’s where that comes from…
See All