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⇱ true - WordReference.com Dictionary of English

true

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UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈtruː/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/tru/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(tro̅o̅)

Inflections of 'true' (adj):
truer
adj comparative
truest
adj superlative
Inflections of 'true' (v): (⇒ conjugate)
trues
v 3rd person singular
truing
v pres p
trueing
v pres p
trued
v past
trued
v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
true /tru/USA pronunciation   adj., tru•er, tru•est, n., adv., v., trued, tru•ing or true•ing. 
adj. 
  1. being in accordance with reality;
    agreeing with reality or fact:a true story; Everything they say about you is true.[It + be + ~ + that clause]It is true that the earth is round.
  2. real;
    genuine;
    authentic:[before a noun]true gold.
  3. sincere;
    not deceitful:[before a noun]a true interest in others.
  4. loyal;
    faithful;
    steadfast:a true friend.[be + ~ + to]He was true to his principles.
  5. being or reflecting the character of:[before a noun]The true meaning of his statement was actually something very different from what it appeared to be.
  6. exact;
    precise;
    accurate;
    correct:a true copy.
  7. such as it should be;
    proper:to arrange things in their true order.
  8. properly so called:That was true statesmanship: being able to work with both sides and reach a compromise.
  9. legitimate:the true heir to the throne.
  10. exactly, correctly, or accurately shaped, formed, or placed, as a surface or instrument:This door isn't true; it doesn't hang straight.

n. [uncountable]
  1. proper, exact, or accurate alignment:to be out of true.

adv. 
  1. in a true manner;
    truly;
    truthfully.
  2. exactly or accurately:The door isn't lined up true.

v. 
  1. to adjust, shape, etc., exactly or accurately: [~ (+ up) + object]to true (up) the door.[~ + object (+ up)]to true the door (up).
Idioms
  1. Idioms come true, (of a wish, etc.) to become a reality:All your dreams will come true when you make this change in your life.

    true is an adjective, truth is a noun, truthful is an adjective, truthfully is an adverb:Her statements are all true. Her statements contain a great deal of truth. She is a truthful child. She spoke truthfully.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
true  (tro̅o̅),USA pronunciation adj., tru•er, tru•est, n., adv., v., trued, tru•ing or true•ing. 
adj. 
  1. being in accordance with the actual state or conditions;
    conforming to reality or fact;
    not false:a true story.
  2. real;
    genuine;
    authentic:true gold; true feelings.
  3. sincere;
    not deceitful:a true interest in someone's welfare.
  4. firm in allegiance;
    loyal;
    faithful;
    steadfast:a true friend.
  5. being or reflecting the essential or genuine character of something:the true meaning of his statement.
  6. conforming to or consistent with a standard, pattern, or the like:a true copy.
  7. exact;
    precise;
    accurate;
    correct:a true balance.
  8. of the right kind;
    such as it should be;
    proper:to arrange things in their true order.
  9. properly so called;
    rightly answering to a description:true statesmanship.
  10. legitimate or rightful:the true heir.
  11. reliable, unfailing, or sure:a true sign.
  12. exactly or accurately shaped, formed, fitted, or placed, as a surface, instrument, or part of a mechanism.
  13. honest;
    honorable;
    upright.
  14. Biologyconforming to the type, norm, or standard of structure of a particular group;
    typical:The lion is a true cat.
  15. Animal Husbandrypurebred.
  16. Nautical, Naval Terms[Navig.](of a bearing, course, etc.) determined in relation to true north.
  17. [Archaic.]truthful.

n. 
  1. exact or accurate formation, position, or adjustment:to be out of true.
  2. the true, something that is true;
    truth.

adv. 
  1. in a true manner;
    truly;
    truthfully.
  2. exactly or accurately.
  3. in conformity with the ancestral type:to breed true.
  4. come true, to have the expected or hoped-for result;
    become a reality:She couldn't believe that her dream would ever come true.

v.t. 
  1. to make true;
    shape, adjust, place, etc., exactly or accurately:to true the wheels of a bicycle after striking a pothole.
  2. Building(esp. in carpentry) to make even, symmetrical, level, etc. (often fol. by up):to true up the sides of a door.
  • bef. 900; Middle English trewe (adjective, adjectival and adverb, adverbial), Old English trēowe (adjective, adjectival) loyal, trusty, honest (see trow, truce); akin to Dutch trouw, German treu, Old Norse tryggr, Gothic triggws
true′ness, n. 
    1. factual, veracious. See real 1. 3. honest. 4. trustworthy; staunch, constant, steady, unwavering. 7. faithful.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
true /truː/ adj (truer, truest)
  1. not false, fictional, or illusory; factual or factually accurate; conforming with reality
  2. (prenominal) being of real or natural origin; genuine; not synthetic
  3. unswervingly faithful and loyal to friends, a cause, etc
  4. conforming to a required standard, law, or pattern: a true aim, a true fit
  5. exactly in tune
  6. (of a compass bearing) according to the earth's geographical rather than magnetic poles: true north
  7. conforming to the typical structure of a designated type
  8. not apparent or relative; taking into account all complicating factors
 n
  1. correct alignment (esp in the phrases in true, out of true)
 adv
  1. truthfully; rightly
  2. precisely or unswervingly
 vb (trues, truing, trued)
  1. (transitive) to adjust so as to make true
Etymology: Old English triewe; related to Old Frisian triūwe, Old Saxon, Old High German triuwi loyal, Old Norse tryggr; see trow, trustˈtrueness n
'true' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
Collocations: true and [correct, complete, accurate, false], true the [edges, corners] (of), yes, that's true, more...

Forum discussions with the word(s) "true" in the title:

, which is true
... tumbled up, with the true nautical roll [Peter Pan]
.... that my dream will come true / comes true
....come true. We wish you..../Vs./....come true,and wish you....
...have a true advantage in being able to accomplish...
'all that you said is true'
“What can I convince the voting public is true?”
“Why didn’t you ... ?” – <"I did / Yes. It was true".>
(even)if the child knows them to be true
(something) is too good to be true
[grammar] That is what I think is true.
a bit too good to be strictly true
a dream come true
A Dream come true
a dream come true
a dream come true
a poor substitute it is true
a real/true story
A reflexive pronoun can't come in "between A and B"--true or false?
A true blue Singaporean word
A True Christian Story
a true democracy
A true friend reaches for your hand
A true friend VS a real friend
A true friend won’t care if you look a little different.
A true friend would want you to be your most beautiful.
A true friend would/should help you
A true Janian reply
a true martial artist can avoid mostly/almost all fights
a true moving testimony
more...

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