not really

phrase

—used to say "no" in a way that is not very forceful or definite
"Was the movie good?" "Not really."
"Do you want to go to a movie?" "No, not really."

Examples of not really in a Sentence

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
There was a concord between GOP leadership and grassroots activists that’s not really possible for the Democrats of 2026. — David Weigel, semafor.com, 2 Sep. 2026 But the other piece of AISI news last week makes clear just what sort of challenges de Zoete will face—and is indicative of why AISI may not really be the exemplar of savvy AI governance that its boosters like to crow about. — Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2026 He's not really directly involved in the admin, at least in the day-to-day in the White House. — Nikole Killion, CBS News, 24 Aug. 2026 Admittedly, the concepts that moneymaxxing espouses are not really new, though social media has given it a fresh spin and name. — Becca Stanek, TheWeek, 18 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for not really

Rhymes for not really

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Browse Nearby Words

not proved
not really
Notre Dame
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Cite this Entry

“Not really.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/not%20really. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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