realistic

realistic — adjective

1. having a sensible attitude that accepts the true limits of a situation, rather t

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

having a sensible attitude that accepts the true limits of a situation, rather than hoping for things that are unlikely to happen or be achieved

Example

Mateo was realistic about his running speed and entered the beginner race instead.

be realistic about + noun phrase: accepting limits about ones own ability

Sven took a realistic look at his budget and decided not to buy the car.

Common collocations
  • realistic about
  • realistic goal
  • realistic target
  • realistic budget
  • realistic expectation
  • realistic plan
  • realistic assessment
  • realistic timeline
Synonyms
  • practical

    more general; emphasises usefulness and workability rather than accepting limits

  • sensible

    focuses on good judgment and avoiding foolish choices

  • pragmatic

    more formal; describes a results-focused approach that sets aside ideals

Antonyms
  • unrealistic

    the direct opposite; describes hopes or plans that ignore real limits

  • idealistic

    describes a person who follows high principles or perfect visions rather than practical limits

Grammar Patterns

be realistic

realistic about [topic]

it is realistic to + infinitive

realistic + noun (goal / target / plan / expectation)

Usage Note

Common in negative or cautionary contexts to warn against over-optimism: 'it is not realistic to…' is far more frequent than the positive form. Also frequently used in business and planning contexts with nouns like target, budget, timeline, and estimate.

Common Mistakes

Is it realistic to fly to the moon next week?
Is it possible to fly to the moon next week?
'realistic' is about practical reasonableness within normal limits, not about mere possibility.
She has a realistic job at the hospital.
She has a real job at the hospital.
'realistic' describes an attitude or plan, not whether something genuinely exists.

2. looking, sounding, or feeling so similar to the real thing that it could be mist

2.adjectiveB1
Definition

looking, sounding, or feeling so similar to the real thing that it could be mistaken for real life — for example, a realistic painting of a forest, or realistic sound effects in a film

Example

The video game has incredibly realistic graphics that show every blade of grass.

attributive: realistic + graphics / details (media and art contexts)

Gabriela painted a realistic portrait of her grandmother from a photograph.

Common collocations
  • realistic graphics
  • realistic portrait
  • realistic sound effects
  • realistic details
  • realistic depiction
  • realistic image
  • so realistic that
  • look realistic
Synonyms
  • lifelike

    nearly interchangeable; slightly more common for visual art and wax figures

  • naturalistic

    more formal; used in art criticism to describe careful imitation of nature

  • convincing

    focuses on the effect on the viewer rather than the accuracy of detail

Antonyms
  • unrealistic

    describes a representation that does not look like real life

  • stylized

    describes a deliberately non-naturalistic artistic approach

Grammar Patterns

realistic + noun (graphics / portrait / sound effects / detail)

look / seem / sound / feel realistic

so realistic that + clause

Usage Note

Typically used to praise the quality of artwork, media, or design. The subject is almost always a thing (graphics, painting, sound, model), not a person. When applied to a person's appearance, use 'realistic-looking' or 'lifelike' instead to avoid ambiguity with sense 1.

Common Mistakes

She wore a realistic dress to the party.
She wore a real silk dress to the party.
'realistic' means 'seeming real', not 'genuine' or 'authentic'.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

These words all describe a way of thinking that is grounded in real conditions rather than wishes, but they emphasise different aspects. 'Realistic' focuses on accepting limits and constraints — a realistic person knows what they can and cannot change. 'Practical' is broader, emphasising usefulness and workability: a practical solution may not be perfect, but it works. 'Sensible' highlights good judgment and avoiding foolish risks — a sensible decision is one that will not cause regret later. 'Pragmatic' is more formal and intellectual; it describes a philosophy of setting aside principles to focus on what produces results. 'Down-to-earth' is the most informal, describing someone humble and unpretentious who does not have grand or fancy ideas. For example: 'A realistic manager knows the team cannot finish in two days.' 'A practical manager finds tools that help the team work faster.' A pragmatic manager might change the deadline entirely if that yields better outcomes.

realistic ↗practical ↗sensible ↗pragmatic ↗down-to-earth ↗

Common collocations

Adverbs

  • very realistic
  • quite realistic
  • extremely realistic
  • fairly realistic
  • highly realistic
  • more realistic
  • less realistic

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Derived from French 'réaliste', which came from Latin 'realis' (meaning actual or relating to real things, from 'res' meaning thing). The English suffix '-ic' was added to form the adjective. The word entered English in the mid-19th century through art and philosophy, first describing the Realist movement that aimed to portray everyday life accurately, then broadening to describe any practical, ground-facing way of thinking.