truth
truth — noun
1. what actually happened in a situation, as opposed to what people imagine, suspec
what actually happened in a situation, as opposed to what people imagine, suspect, or claim happened
The whole truth about the accident only came out at the trial.
the whole truth about
Dahlia finally told her parents the truth about why she had left university.
tell + object + the truth about
Journalists have a duty to report the truth to the public.
The truth is that the Apex Corporation knew about the faulty brake pads for six months before recalling the cars.
The children were too young to understand the truth about what had happened.
文法句型
the truth that + clause
the truth about + noun
用法筆記
The most common sense of 'truth'. Usually used with the definite article 'the'. Can also appear in 'whole truth', 'simple truth', and 'the truth of the matter'.
常見錯誤
2. the quality that a statement, idea, or piece of information has when it matches
the quality that a statement, idea, or piece of information has when it matches what is real or what actually happened
The truth of Amihan's statement was confirmed by the video recording.
the truth of + noun phrase
Padma questioned the truth of the ancient Greek story about a wooden horse that held soldiers inside.
question the truth of + specific claim
Layla questioned the truth of the claims made in the advertisement.
Salma repeated the experiment three times to check the truth of her initial findings.
用法筆記
Uncountable — cannot be used with 'a' or 'an'. Frequently followed by 'of' + noun phrase to specify what is being checked for truthfulness.
常見錯誤
3. used in fixed expressions such as 'to tell you the truth', 'the truth is', and '
used in fixed expressions such as 'to tell you the truth', 'the truth is', and 'in truth' to introduce a frank or honest statement, especially when admitting something surprising or unwelcome
To tell you the truth, I never really liked the food at that restaurant.
fixed phrase: to tell you the truth
The truth is, I was too scared to say anything during the meeting.
In truth, the project turned out to be far more difficult than anyone expected.
Rodrigo is, in truth, one of the most dedicated teachers at the school.
- honestly
adverb used similarly to introduce an honest statement
- frankly
more direct; often used before a blunt or critical opinion
- to be honest
equivalent phrase, very common in everyday speech
文法句型
in truth
to tell you the truth
the truth is
用法筆記
Only appears in a few fixed expressions: 'the truth is (that)...', 'to tell you the truth', and 'in truth'. The phrase 'truth be told' also belongs here. Cannot be modified by adjectives or used with possessive determiners.
常見錯誤
4. what someone honestly believes or feels deep inside about their own life or iden
what someone honestly believes or feels deep inside about their own life or identity, which may be different from what others think or from what is objectively true
After years of hiding her feelings, Amihan finally accepted her own truth.
possessive + own truth
Baraka's truth about the argument was very different from his brother's version.
The novel follows a woman who spends a year discovering her personal truth.
In therapy, Vivek began to speak his truth for the first time in years.
- conviction
a firmly held belief or opinion
- belief
something accepted as true; broader and less emotionally charged
- perspective
a particular way of seeing things; emphasises point of view
文法句型
possessive + truth
用法筆記
Commonly used with possessive determiners: 'my truth', 'her truth', 'their truth'. This sense contrasts with sense 1 (REAL FACTS), which refers to objective facts that everyone can agree on. Sense 4 is subjective and may differ from person to person.
常見錯誤
❌ 'His truth is that he stole the money, so we should call the police.' — Use sense 1 (REAL FACTS) for provable facts. Sense 4 is for subjective, personal beliefs.
5. a statement or idea that a large number of people believe to be correct, especia
a statement or idea that a large number of people believe to be correct, especially one considered always valid across many situations
The ancient Greeks believed in universal truths about justice that they called natural laws.
countable plural: universal truths
After losing his job in the flood, Zayd learned the great truth that nothing stays the same forever.
great truth that + clause
The scientist spent years searching for a single truth that explained everything.
Buddhist teachings offer specific truths about suffering and the path to inner peace.
The kindergarten teacher watched Hugo discover basic truths about gravity by dropping crayons from his desk.
文法句型
a truth that + clause
plural: truths
用法筆記
Countable — use 'a truth' for one principle, 'truths' for multiple. Common in philosophical, religious, and scientific writing. 'Truth' in this sense is often modified by adjectives such as 'universal', 'absolute', 'fundamental', 'eternal', or 'basic'.