reality
noun
re·al·i·ty
rē-ˈa-lə-tē 
plural realities
1
: the quality or state of being real
2
a(1)
: a real event, entity, or state of affairs
his dream became a reality
(2)
: the totality of real things and events
trying to escape from reality
b
: something that is neither derivative nor dependent but exists necessarily
3
: television programming that features people (especially people who are not professional actors) dealing with real-life situations or participating in contrived activities (such as competitions)
I for one am rooting for anything that stems the rising tide of reality on television.—
Ted Cox
Ted Cox… it's a tough choice between The Voice and Dancing With the Stars. … If reality means nothing to you, then you're faced with a medical drama, a superhero drama and comedies.—Chris Harnick
—usually used before another nounChris Harnickreality stars
a reality series
reality shows
fans of reality TV/television
… critical judge Simon Cowell praised him as "the best magician ever" on the Britain's Got Talent reality competition.—Markos Papadatos
Markos PapadatosThe Arkansas native competing on the popular reality dating show The Bachelor has advanced to become one of only three remaining contestants.—arkansasonline.com
arkansasonline.com… beat out 20,000 applicants to become one of 18 final contestants on Hell's Kitchen, the reality cooking show that banks on aspiring chefs' ambition (and vulnerabilities) and chef Gordon Ramsay's volatility.—Sarah Reiss
Sarah Reiss
see also:
Examples of reality in a Sentence
the difference between fiction and reality
The reality is that we can't afford to buy a house.
He used television as an escape from reality.
They made the plan a reality.
Recent Examples on the Web
Cárdenas talked with episode director Trey Edward Shults about the right way to illustrate the Bowdens’ POV and landed on a number of devices that would alter reality without becoming overly self-conscious.
—
Jim Hemphill,
IndieWire,
3 July 2026
He is driven, uncompromising, and firmly believes that his job is to document reality, not interfere with it.
—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
3 July 2026
Andy’s diagnosis pulled her back overnight—a common reality for glioblastoma families, since the disease often forces patients to stop working.
—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
3 July 2026
But the vastly different conditions under which these objects were produced—at an internment camp and a Pennsylvania estate—expose the striated reality behind that iconography.
—
Cat Dawson,
ARTnews.com,
3 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for reality
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Jim Hemphill,
IndieWire,
3 July 2026
He is driven, uncompromising, and firmly believes that his job is to document reality, not interfere with it.
—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
3 July 2026
Andy’s diagnosis pulled her back overnight—a common reality for glioblastoma families, since the disease often forces patients to stop working.
—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
3 July 2026
But the vastly different conditions under which these objects were produced—at an internment camp and a Pennsylvania estate—expose the striated reality behind that iconography.
—
Cat Dawson,
ARTnews.com,
3 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for reality
Cite this Entry
“Reality.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reality. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
reality
noun
re·al·i·ty
rē-ˈal-ət-ē
plural realities
1
: the quality or state of being real
2
: someone or something real or actual
our dream became a reality
3
: television programming that shows videos of actual occurrences (as police chases, stunts, or natural disasters)
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