true

American  

[troo] / tru /

adjective

truer, truest

1. being in accordance with the actual state or conditions; conforming to reality or fact; not false.

   a true story.

   Synonyms:

   veracious, factual

2. real; genuine; authentic.

   true gold; true feelings.

3. sincere; not deceitful.

   a true interest in someone's welfare.

   Synonyms:

   honest

4. firm in allegiance; loyal; faithful; steadfast.

   a true friend.

   Synonyms:

   steady, constant, staunch, trustworthy

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.

   Synonyms:

   faithful

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. Biology. conforming to the type, norm, or standard of structure of a particular group; typical.

    The lion is a true cat.

15. Animal Husbandry. purebred.

16. Navigation. (of a bearing, course, etc.) determined in relation to true north.

17. Archaic. truthful.

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noun

1. exact or accurate formation, position, or adjustment.

   to be out of true.

2. the true, something that is true; truth.

adverb

1. in a true manner; truly; truthfully.

2. exactly or accurately.

3. in conformity with the ancestral type.

   to breed true.

verb (used with object)

trued, truing, trueing

1. to make true; shape, adjust, place, etc., exactly or accurately.

   to true the wheels of a bicycle after striking a pothole.

2. (especially in carpentry) to make even, symmetrical, level, etc. (often followed byup ).

   to true up the sides of a door.

idioms

1. come true, to have the expected or hoped-for result; become a reality.

   She couldn't believe that her dream would ever come true.

true British  

/ truː /

adjective

1. not false, fictional, or illusory; factual or factually accurate; conforming with reality

2. (prenominal) being of real or natural origin; genuine; not synthetic

   true leather

3. 1. unswervingly faithful and loyal to friends, a cause, etc

      a true follower

   2. ( as collective noun ; preceded by the )

      the loyal and the true

4. faithful to a particular concept of truth, esp of religious truth

   a true believer

5. conforming to a required standard, law, or pattern

   a true aim

   a true fit

6. exactly in tune

   a true note

7. (of a compass bearing) according to the earth's geographical rather than magnetic poles

   true north

8. biology conforming to the typical structure of a designated type

   sphagnum moss is a true moss, Spanish moss is not

9. physics not apparent or relative; taking into account all complicating factors Compare apparent

   the true expansion of a liquid takes into account the expansion of the container

10. informal unbelievable; remarkable

    she's got so much money it's not true

11. exactly comparable with reality

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noun

1. correct alignment (esp in the phrases in true, out of true )

adverb

1. truthfully; rightly

2. precisely or unswervingly

   he shot true

3. biology without variation from the ancestral type

   to breed true

verb

1. (tr) to adjust so as to make true

true More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing true

• come true
• course of true love
• dream come true
• find true north
• hold good (true)
• ring false (true)
• run (true) to form
• too good to be true
• tried and true

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Related Words

See real ¹.

Other Word Forms

• half-true adjective
• trueness noun

Etymology

Origin of true

before 900; Middle English trewe (adj. and adv.), Old English trēowe (adj.) loyal, trusty, honest ( trow, truce ); akin to Dutch trouw, German treu, Old Norse tryggr, Gothic triggws

Explanation

Things that are true are accurate, honest, and correct. There are many specific meanings, but when something is true, you can believe it. This word has many meanings, but they're all pretty much the opposite of false. True statements can be proven or verified — they aren't lies. To sing true is to sing on-key, and a true throw is on-target. The true king is the real king, not a fake. A true friend can be trusted. A true believer really believes in something, like a religion. And when you're true to yourself, you're being honest about what you want and feel.

Example Sentences

They hide their true selves, Mr. McCarthy believes, avoiding human connection and suffering a dearth in friendship.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026

But Mann and Kani are also careful not to restrict the play to their realities, knowing that to feel true today, the story needs room to breathe.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2026

Trust & Will said it asked separately about each document this year because it wanted to give a better picture of the true preparedness of families.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 14, 2026

Jane said when she shared her concerns that she was "frightened" of Al Fayed, she was told the "rumours were not true" and she had nothing to worry about.

From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026

How both of those things are true at once.

From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse

Related Words

• accurate
• appropriate
• authentic
• bona fide
• correct
• genuine
• honest
• legitimate
• natural
• normal
• perfect
• proper
• pure
• sincere
• truthful
• typical