Meaning & use
true
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Meanings
adjectivecomparable
Matching the facts and what really happened; not false or made up.
Grammar: Used after be or before a noun: that is true, a true story.
Patterns
- it is true that something
- true of something
- come true
Is it true that the store closes at nine?
The movie is based on a true story.
What she said about the project turned out to be true.
adjectivebefore a noun
Real and genuine, not fake or imitation.
Grammar: Comes before a noun to mean genuine: true love, a true friend.
Patterns
- a true + noun
She is a true friend who always tells me the truth.
He showed his true colors when the money ran out.
This is true leather, not plastic.
adjectiveafter a verb
Loyal and faithful to a person, promise or principle.
Grammar: Often followed by to: stay true to your word.
Patterns
- true to someone
- true to something
- remain true to something
He stayed true to his promise even when it was hard.
The film is true to the spirit of the book.
She remained true to her friends through everything.
adjectiveafter a verbtechnical
Exactly straight, level or correctly aligned.
Grammar: Used about parts that fit properly: the wheel is true.
Patterns
- not quite true
The carpenter checked that the door frame was true.
After repair, the bicycle wheel spun true.
The shelf isn't true, so the books slide off.
verbtransitivetechnical
To adjust something so that it is exactly level, straight or in line.
Grammar: Takes an object, often with up: true the wheel.
Patterns
- true something
- true something up
He trued the bicycle wheel with a spoke wrench.
The machinist trued the edge of the board.
Carpenters true up a frame before nailing it.
Word forms
| comparative | truer |
|---|---|
| superlative | truest |
| third person singular | trues |
| past tense | trued |
| -ing form | truing |
Common combinations
- true story
- The novel is based on a true story.
- come true
- Her dream of being a pilot finally came true.
- true friend
- A true friend listens without judging.
- hold true
- The rule holds true in most cases.
- true to life
- The characters are true to life.
- stay true to
- Stay true to yourself.
Synonyms and how they differ
- correct
- Correct is used for answers and facts that match a standard, while true can describe stories and feelings as well.
- accurate
- Accurate stresses careful precision, while true simply means not false.
- genuine
- Genuine stresses being real rather than fake, which matches only the second sense of true.
- loyal
- Loyal describes steady devotion, matching true in the sense of faithful.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: true or truly? true or through?
true vs truly
Truly is the adverb, meaning really or sincerely, while true is the adjective. You say a true friend, but you truly care.
true vs through
Through is a different word entirely, though non-native learners sometimes mix up the sound of true and through.
Practice
The director wanted the film to stay ____ to the original book.
Choose one answer.
Stay true to is the fixed expression for remaining loyal to something. Faithful would need 'to' too but is not the pattern tested here, and right and real do not fit with 'stay ... to'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “true”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.