for real

• fr (abbreviation)
• for-real (usually used only in the comparative or superlative)

for real (comparative more for real, superlative most for real)

1. (informal) Genuine, true; serious, earnest.

   Is his story for real?

   • 1968 September 6, “Outreach in the inner city makes library 'for real'”, in Christian Science Monitor:

     […] demonstration sponsored by the library may make the library more' "for real" to the inner-city person

   • 1971, “Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get”, performed by The Dramatics:

     Some people / Are up to no good, ah / But baby, I'm for real / I'm as real as real can get

   • 1996, “Wannabe”, in Spice, performed by Spice Girls:

     Oh, what do you think about that / Now you know how I feel / Say you could handle my love, are you for real?

for real (not comparable)

1. Genuinely, truly.

   This recipe takes two hours to cook, for real!

• earnestly; see also Thesaurus:honestly

• for fake (humorous)

• for real and for true
• for reals (slang)
• for realsies (slang)