re|al|ist /riː əl I st/ (realists )
1 N‑COUNT A realist is someone who recognizes and accepts the true nature of a situation and tries to deal with it in a practical way. [APPROVAL ] □ I see myself not as a cynic but as a realist.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] A realist painter or writer is one who represents things and people in a way that is like real life. □ …perhaps the foremost realist painter of our times.
re|al|is|tic /riː əl I st I k/
1 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If you are realistic about a situation, you recognize and accept its true nature and try to deal with it in a practical way. □ [+ about ] Police have to be realistic about violent crime. □ It's only realistic to acknowledge that something, some time, will go wrong. ● re|al|is|ti|cal|ly ADV [usu ADV with v, oft ADV adj] □ As an adult, you can assess the situation realistically.
2 ADJ Something such as a goal or target that is realistic is one which you can sensibly expect to achieve. □ Establish deadlines that are more realistic.
3 ADJ You say that a painting, story, or film is realistic when the people and things in it are like people and things in real life. □ …extraordinarily realistic paintings of Indians. ● re|al|is|ti|cal|ly ADV [usu ADV with v] □ The film starts off realistically and then develops into a ridiculous fantasy.
re|al|is|ti|cal|ly /riː əl I st I kli/
1 ADV You use realistically when you want to emphasize that what you are saying is true, even though you would prefer it not to be true. [EMPHASIS ] □ Realistically, there is never one right answer.
2 → see also realistic
re|al|ity ◆◆◇ /riæ l I ti/ (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. □ Fiction and reality were increasingly blurred.
2 → see also virtual reality
3 N‑COUNT The reality of a situation is the truth about it, especially when it is unpleasant or difficult to deal with. □ [+ of ] …the harsh reality of top international competition.
4 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.
5 PHRASE 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. COLLOCATIONS reality NOUN 3
adjective + reality : grim, harsh, sad, stark
verb + reality : accept, confront, face, recognize; expose, reflect
re |a l|ity check (reality checks ) N‑COUNT [usu sing] If you say that something is a reality check for someone, you mean that it makes them recognize the truth about a situation, especially about the difficulties involved in something they want to achieve. □ [+ for ] This first reality check for the players could shape the rest of the club's season.
re|a l|ity TV N‑UNCOUNT Reality TV is a type of television programming which aims to show how ordinary people behave in everyday life, or in situations, often created by the programme makers, which are intended to represent everyday life. □ …the Americans' current infatuation with reality TV.
re|al|iz|able /riː əla I zəb ə l/ in BRIT, also use realisable 1 ADJ If your hopes or aims are realizable , there is a possibility that the things that you want to happen will happen. [FORMAL ] □ …the reasonless assumption that one's dreams and desires were realizable.
2 ADJ Realizable wealth is money that can be easily obtained by selling something. [FORMAL ] □ They must prove they own £250,000 of realisable assets.
re|al|ize ◆◆◇ /riː əla I z/ (realizes , realizing , realized ) in BRIT, also use realise 1 VERB If you realize that something is true, you become aware of that fact or understand it. □ [V that] As soon as we realised something was wrong, we moved the children away. □ [V wh] People don't realize how serious this recession has actually been. □ [V n] Once they realised their mistake the phone was reconnected again. □ [V ] 'That's my brother.'—'Oh, I hadn't realized.' ● re|ali|za|tion /riː əla I ze I ʃ ə n/ (realizations ) N‑VAR [usu N that] □ There is now a growing realisation that things cannot go on like this for much longer. □ [+ of ] He nearly cried out at the sudden realization of how much Randall looked like him.
2 VERB [usu passive] If your hopes, desires, or fears are realized , the things that you hope for, desire, or fear actually happen. □ [be V -ed] Straightaway our worst fears were realised. ● re|ali|za|tion N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] …the realization of his worst fears.
3 VERB When someone realizes a design or an idea, they make or organize something based on that design or idea. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] Various textile techniques will be explored to realise design possibilities.
4 VERB If someone or something realizes their potential, they do everything they are capable of doing, because they have been given the opportunity to do so. □ [V n] The support systems to enable women to realize their potential at work are inadequate.
5 VERB If something realizes a particular amount of money when it is sold, that amount of money is paid for it. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] Last year's auction realised $48 million. ● re|ali|za|tion N‑VAR □ [+ of ] I took this course to assist the realisation of my assets for the benefit of my creditors. SYNONYMS realize VERB 1