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Meaning of Word

Surreal refers to something that is strange, dreamlike, or beyond reality, often evoking a sense of bewilderment or absurdity. It describes situations, events, or experiences that feel as though they belong to a dream rather than the normal waking world.

Definitions and Meaning in English

1. Surreal (adjective): Describing something that is extraordinary, bizarre, or beyond the ordinary in a way that seems unreal or fantastical.
2. Surreal (adjective): Associated with the quality of a dream or a fantasy, creating a sense of the unreal or the uncanny.
3. Surreal can also refer to art, literature, or movies that explore elements of the bizarre, illogical, or irrational in an imaginative way.

History and Origin

The word surreal comes from the French term surréalisme, coined by poet Guillaume Apollinaire in 1917, which means “above realism” or “beyond reality.” The term became associated with a cultural movement, the Surrealist movement, founded by André Breton in the 1920s. This movement sought to challenge rational thought and explore the unconscious mind, dreams, and the irrational. Over time, the term evolved to describe anything that seems bizarre or dreamlike in nature.

Detailed Explanation

Surreal refers to experiences, scenes, or elements that feel out of place in the real world, often evoking a sense of wonder, confusion, or disorientation. This can apply to anything from a piece of art to a life event that seems so strange or extraordinary that it doesn’t seem real.

In art, surrealism often presents distorted or fantastical imagery, combining real and imagined elements in ways that challenge conventional perception. A scene might include ordinary objects arranged in an illogical manner or in dreamlike settings.

In a broader sense, surreal is used to describe real-life events or situations that feel bizarre or unreal, such as an unexpected, extraordinary occurrence that seems too strange to be true. For example, witnessing an impossible coincidence or experiencing an event that feels like something out of a dream may be described as surreal.

Example Sentences

1. The movie had a surreal quality, with strange landscapes and bizarre characters that felt like they belonged in a dream.
2. The experience of meeting a celebrity unexpectedly was so surreal that I couldn’t believe it was happening.
3. The sky was a deep purple, and the landscape seemed surreal, as if painted by an artist.
4. Her sudden recovery after such a severe illness felt almost surreal.
5. The quiet, empty street at night had a surreal atmosphere, as if the world had stopped.
6. He described the moment of winning the lottery as surreal, unable to comprehend the unbelievable luck.
7. The painting depicted a surreal scene of clocks melting over trees in a desert.
8. The scene at the party was so chaotic and bizarre that it seemed almost surreal.
9. Walking through the mist-covered forest felt surreal, as if I had entered a different world.

Synonyms with Short Explanation

1. Bizarre: Very strange or unusual, often in a way that seems unreal, like surreal.
2. Dreamlike: Having the qualities of a dream, often used to describe something that feels otherworldly or surreal.
3. Unreal: So strange or unusual that it doesn’t seem to be of this world, similar to surreal.
4. Fantastic: Improbable or imaginary, often in a way that feels surreal.
5. Absurd: Extremely unreasonable or illogical, sometimes used to describe things that feel surreal.

Related Words with Short Explanation

1. Surrealism: An art and literary movement that seeks to express the unconscious mind, dreams, and irrational thoughts, closely tied to the concept of surreal.
2. Uncanny: Something eerie or strange in a way that causes discomfort, similar to a surreal experience.
3. Otherworldly: Describing something that is beyond or different from the natural world, often associated with the surreal.
4. Dreamscape: A surreal, often fantastical scene or landscape resembling the content of a dream.
5. Hallucination: An experience of something that isn’t real, which can sometimes feel surreal in its intensity or oddness.

Antonyms

1. Realistic: Depicting or resembling real life in a conventional way, the opposite of surreal.
2. Ordinary: Something that is commonplace or unremarkable, unlike the strange, extraordinary nature of surreal.
3. Rational: Based on logic and reason, which contrasts with the illogical and dreamlike qualities of surreal.
4. Tangible: Something that is clear and definite, in contrast to the abstract or elusive nature of the surreal.
5. Practical: Focused on what is real and achievable, opposite of the abstract or fantastical nature of surreal.