true
gb/tɹˈu/ us/tɹˈu/
A2
English
~ 600
Senses
0 senses
adjective
A2
property
1
Accurate or real
Matching the facts; not wrong.
Usage pattern:
[something] is true
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'true' with 'truth', using 'true' as a noun. 'True' is an adjective; the noun form is 'truth'.
Synonyms
accurate (Focuses on correctness in detail or measurement.)
|
correct (Emphasizes being free from mistakes.)
Antonyms
false (Indicates something is untrue or incorrect.)
|
incorrect (Means not correct; wrong.)
Collocations
true statement
|true story
|true fact
|come true
|hold true
Themes
communication
|logic
|knowledge
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Her statement was completely true.
- It is true that the company is facing challenges.
- The rumor turned out to be true.
- What he said about the weather was true.
- The report is true according to official data.
Learner examples
- This story is true.
- It is true that cats sleep a lot.
- My name is true on the list.
- The news is true.
- Her answer is true.
adjective
B1
property
2
Loyal and faithful
Always supporting someone or something; not changing loyalty.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is true to [someone/something]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with 'real' meaning 'genuine', but here it means 'loyal'. Context determines meaning.
Synonyms
loyal (Highlights consistent support and allegiance.)
|
faithful (Emphasizes devotion and reliability.)
Antonyms
disloyal (Indicates betrayal or lack of loyalty.)
|
unfaithful (Suggests breaking trust or commitment.)
Collocations
true friend
|true love
|true to your word
Themes
relationships
|values
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- He has always been a true friend to me.
- She stayed true to her principles despite pressure.
- They remained true to their promise.
- A true partner supports you in hard times.
- He proved himself to be a true ally.
Learner examples
- She is a true friend.
- He is true to his family.
- I am true to my promise.
- He stayed true to his team.
- She is true to her word.
adjective
B1
property
3
Genuine; not fake
Real and not a copy or fake.
Usage pattern:
[something] is true [noun]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'true' meaning 'real' with 'truth' meaning 'fact'. They are different parts of speech.
Synonyms
genuine (Stresses authenticity over imitation.)
|
authentic (Implies verified originality.)
Antonyms
fake (Indicates something made to look real but not genuine.)
|
counterfeit (Refers to illegal imitation, especially of money or goods.)
Collocations
true identity
|true colors
|true copy
Themes
objects
|authenticity
|daily_life
|business
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- This is the one true version of the painting.
- We finally learned her true identity.
- The signature is true and verified.
- He showed his true colors during the crisis.
- That’s a true diamond, not glass.
Learner examples
- This bag is true leather.
- Her name is her true name.
- This is a true story.
- This coin is true gold.
- The photo shows his true face.
adjective
technical
B2
property
4
Precisely aligned or positioned
Straight or in the correct position or alignment.
Usage pattern:
[something] is true
Synonyms
aligned (Emphasizes correct positioning relative to a reference point.)
|
level (Focuses on horizontal correctness.)
Antonyms
misaligned (Not correctly aligned.)
|
crooked (Not straight; bent or twisted.)
Collocations
hold true
|ring true
Themes
engineering
|construction
|work
|technology
Examples
- The wheels must be set true before tightening the bolts.
- Make sure the frame is perfectly true before welding.
- The carpenter checked if the board was true.
- A bicycle wheel needs to be kept true for smooth riding.
- The machine’s axis is now running true.
Learner examples
- The table legs are true.
- The wheel is not true.
- Keep the door frame true.
- This wall is not true.
- The picture hangs true on the wall.
Grammar
Dictionary form
true
IPA
GB/tɹˈu/
US/tɹˈu/
Syllables & stress
true (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (true)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: true
- Comparative: trueer
- Superlative: truest
Word family
Highlights
- Irregular comparative: trueer Adjective
Expressions
ring true
1/ɹˈɪŋ tɹˈu/
idiom
Seem believable or authentic
To sound like it could be true or real.
Examples
- His excuse didn’t ring true to me.
- The details of her story ring true based on what we know.
true colors
1/tɹˈu kˈʌlɚz/
idiom
Real character revealed
The kind of person someone really is, shown by their actions over time.
Examples
- He showed his true colors when he refused to help.
- In difficult times, people reveal their true colors.
true love
1/tɹˈu lˈʌv/
fixed phrase
Genuine romantic affection
Real and deep romantic feelings between two people.
Examples
- They believe they have found their true love.
- True love can be hard to find.
true to form
1/tɹˈu tə fˈɔɹm/
idiom
Behaving as expected
Doing something in the way you usually do it, often not surprising anyone.
Examples
- True to form, he arrived late again.
- She, true to form, brought homemade cookies.
come true
1/kˈʌm tɹˈu/
fixed phrase
Happen as hoped or imagined
When something you hope for really happens.
Examples
- Her dream of becoming a singer finally came true.
- Her dream of becoming a doctor finally came true.
- I hope your wishes come true.
- The prediction came true just as he said it would.