Unreal Meaning
/ʌnˈɹi.əl/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
adjNot real or substantial; having no actual presence in reality; lacking the characteristics of reality.
adjvery impressive; amazing; unbelievable; incredible; larger or more fantastic than typical of real life.
Sentence Examples
My crime seems unreal to me.
My life seems unreal.
I find the concept of Globish restrictive and unreal.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The special effects in the movie were so ____ that the scenes looked like a dream.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The colors of the sunset were so vivid that they almost looked ____, like a beautiful painting in the sky today.
Word Origin & History
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *né Proto-Indo-European *n̥- Proto-Germanic *un- Proto-West Germanic *un- Old English un- Middle English un- English un- Proto-Indo-European *(H)reh₁-der. Proto-Indo-European *(H)reh₁ís Proto-Italic *reis Latin rēs Proto-Indo-European *h₂el-der.? Proto-Italic *-ālis Late Latin -ālis Late Latin reālisder. Old French reelbor. Middle English real English real English unreal From un- + real.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"The word ‘ivory’ rang in the air, was whispered, was sighed. You would think they were praying to it. A taint of imbecile rapacity blew through it all, like a whiff from some corpse. By Jove! I’ve never seen anything so unreal in my life."
— 1899 February, Joseph Conrad, “The Heart of Darkness”, in Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine, volume CLXV, number M, New York, N.Y.: The Leonard Scott Publishing Company, […], →OCLC, part I, page 212:
""The Boy's Uncle made me Real," he said. "That was a great many years ago; but once you are Real you can't become unreal again. It lasts for always.""
— 1921 June, Margery Williams, “The Velveteen Rabbit: Or How Toys Become Real”, in Harper’s Bazar, volume LVI, number 6 (2504 overall), New York, N.Y.: International Magazine Company, →ISSN, →OCLC:
"He stops his cab at every traffic light, unrolls his window and calls out to the other drivers: "I've got a movie star in the car! Follow me down to see her come out. She is unreal, man! I am in seventh heaven! I have a dream!""
— 1990, Eurydice, F/32, page 205:
""She just set me up" "Now that's unreal, man. I mean, we're talking about a fairly considerable sum here, aren't we, Dexter?" "Listen to me. She set me up, with a dude she was cheatin' on me with"
— 1995, Sam Reaves, Get What's Coming, page 60:
"“Yeah, she does have a certain mental toughness that is unreal,” agreed Berto. “I really don't think of her as a girl, I mean, it's like she's a tough buddy or tough sister to me.”"
— 2012, Thomas Maul, Manila Demon, page 102:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The special effects in the movie were so ____ that the scenes looked like a dream.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The colors of the sunset were so vivid that they almost looked ____, like a beautiful painting in the sky today.