Meaning & use
be authentic
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Meanings
phraselinking
to behave in a way that truly shows your own character, beliefs, and feelings, without pretending to be someone else
Grammar: Used with the verb 'be' as a linking verb, followed by the adjective 'authentic'. It describes the subject, not an action on an object.
Patterns
- be authentic with someone
- be authentic to yourself
- try to be authentic
She decided to stop copying influencers and just be authentic online.
It takes courage to be authentic when everyone expects you to fit in.
His best speeches work because he is authentic and speaks from the heart.
phraselinking
to be real and genuine, not a copy or fake version
Grammar: Used mainly about objects, foods, or experiences. The opposite is 'be fake' or 'be imitation'.
Patterns
- be authentic to something
- be truly authentic
The restaurant claims its recipes are authentic and come from the chef's grandmother.
Tourists want souvenirs that are authentic, not cheap copies made elsewhere.
Common combinations
- be authentic to yourself
- She tries to be authentic to herself even when others disagree.
- be authentic with someone
- It is easier to be authentic with close friends than with strangers.
- be truly authentic
- That handbag is truly authentic, not a knock-off.
- be authentic online
- Many young people find it hard to be authentic online.
Synonyms and how they differ
- be true to yourself
- This is a fixed idiom that emphasizes staying loyal to your own values; 'be authentic' is a more modern, slightly psychological way to say something similar.
- be genuine
- Often interchangeable, but 'genuine' can also describe objects (a genuine diamond) and sounds a little warmer and less trendy than 'authentic'.
- be real
- Informal and direct; it suggests honesty and no pretense, but it can sound blunt in formal writing.
Opposites
Word family
- authenticity noun
- The quality of being real or true to oneself.
- authentically adverb
- In a way that is real or true to oneself.
Commonly confused: be authentic or be authoritative?
be authentic vs be authoritative
Authoritative means having official power or being reliable as a source. Authentic means real or true to yourself. A person can be authoritative (an expert) without being authentic (honest about feelings).
Practice
Choose the sentence that uses 'be authentic' correctly.
Choose one answer.
The phrase 'be authentic with someone' means to be honest and true to yourself around them. Option B wrongly uses 'authentic' to mean 'able to'; option C uses 'for' instead of 'to' or 'by'; option D confuses 'authentic' with 'outside' or 'caught'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “be authentic”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.