the truth

the truth — idiom

1. the facts of a situation that are accurate and can be proven, rather than what p

1.idiomA2
Definition

the facts of a situation that are accurate and can be proven, rather than what people say, believe, or wish were true

Example

Stephanie knew that telling her parents the truth about the car accident would be hard.

collocation: tell (someone) the truth about [something]

After hearing two very different accounts, Anjali decided to find out the truth for herself.

collocation: find out the truth

Common collocations
  • tell the truth
  • find out the truth
  • the truth comes out
  • search for the truth
  • know the truth
  • reveal the truth
  • the truth about
Synonyms
  • the facts

    more neutral; focuses on verifiable data rather than the concept of truthfulness

  • reality

    broader; refers to the actual state of things, not just provable facts

Antonyms
  • a lie

    a false statement made on purpose

  • fiction

    something invented or imagined, not necessarily dishonest

Grammar Patterns

the truth + about + [topic]

possessive + truth + about + [topic]

Usage Note

Often follows verbs such as 'tell', 'know', 'find out', 'discover', or 'reveal'. Frequently used with a possessive determiner ('his truth', 'our truth') when referring to a personal version of events.

Common Mistakes

I want to know true.
I want to know the truth.
'truth' is a noun and needs an article or determiner.
He told truth about the accident.
He told the truth about the accident.
'truth' usually takes the definite article 'the' in this fixed phrase.

Synonym discussion

Sense: idiom/1

'The truth' refers to what is actually the case, as opposed to what is false, assumed, or fabricated. 'The facts' are specific pieces of verified information — you can list facts, but truth is the broader picture made up of those facts (the truth about a crime includes many facts, but also context and motive). 'Reality' is the widest term, covering everything that exists regardless of whether it can be verified or stated. 'The honest truth' (informal) adds emotional emphasis, often used when persuading someone: 'The honest truth is I was too scared to go.' Use 'truth' when contrasting with lies or deception; use 'facts' when contrasting with opinions or guesses; use 'reality' when contrasting with imagination or hope.

the factsreality ↗the honest truth

Etymology

Proto-GermanicOld EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

The noun 'truth' comes from Old English 'trēowþ' meaning 'fidelity, faith, pledge', from Proto-Germanic '*trewwō' ('faith, pledge'). The fixed phrase 'the truth' has been used since Old English times to refer to the state of being in accordance with fact or reality, as opposed to falsehood. Modern usage as a set phrase ('tell the truth', 'the truth about') became fully established by the 14th century.