not really
The phrase "not really" is commonly used to convey a less forceful negation, often softening the impact of a direct 'no' or indicating partial truth.
🇺🇸 US Voice:
🇬🇧 UK Voice:
Definition
B1General
(informal)Used to indicate that something is not entirely true or accurate.
Example
- Are you tired? Not really, just a bit sleepy.
B1Conversation
(informal)Used to soften a negative response or disagreement.
Example
- Do you want to go to the party? Not really, I have other plans.
B2Conversation
(informal)Used to express a degree of doubt or uncertainty about a statement.
Example
- Is it going to rain today? Not really sure, the forecast is unclear.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "not really":