not really
phrase
—used to say "no" in a way that is not very forceful or definite
"Was the movie good?" "Not really."
"Do you want to go to a movie?" "No, not really."
Examples of not really in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Because, after all, as in all of Haber’s novels, the point is not really what is happening in the world but what is happening in the mind—in this case the mind of the pettiest of tyrants.
—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 July 2026
Herbert's wager is that the first few expensive accidents change that math, and that the extreme case is not really about gadgets at all.
—
Boaz Sobrado,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for not really
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.
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 July 2026
Herbert's wager is that the first few expensive accidents change that math, and that the extreme case is not really about gadgets at all.
—
Boaz Sobrado,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for not really
Cite this Entry
“Not really.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/not%20really. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
