Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - reality

~ n 1 things that actually happen or are true, not things that are imagined or thought about  (She can't tell the difference between fantasy and reality. | Books can be an escape from reality.) 2 in reality used to say something is different from what people think  (Henry always seems so self-confident, but in reality he's extremely shy.) 3 become a reality to actually happen  (Marilyn's dream of being a film star became a reality.) 4 the reality/realities of what actually happens in a situation, rather than what you think might happen  (They were unprepared for the reality of city life. | harsh realities)  (the harsh realities of unemployment) 5 the reality is that used to say that the truth about a situation is very different from what people say  (They keep saying we'll get the money, but the reality is that there's none left.)