What does unrealistic mean?
Word: Unrealistic
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Unrealistic means not sensible about what can really happen or be done, often because too much is expected.
How do you spell unrealistic?
Syllables: un - re - al - is - tic
Tricky part: The e and the a after the r are both sounded, in separate syllables, so unrelistic, with the a missing, is a common slip.
Watch out for: unrelistic, unreelistic
Memory tip: Say ree-AL slowly in the middle of the word: you can hear the e and then the a, so write both.
Unrealistic in a sentence
Example 1: Expecting to win every race of the season is unrealistic, even for a strong runner.
Example 2: Mira's first budget for the class party was unrealistic, so the teacher helped her trim it.
Example 3: The film's happy ending felt unrealistic, but the audience still clapped.
Fun Fact
Researchers have found that most people are a little unrealistic about time: we usually guess that a task will take less time than it really does, a habit called the planning fallacy.
Practise the CREST Way
Spellacadabra
Choose the misspelt word:
a) artistic
b) optimistic
c) majestic
d) unrealistick
Show answer
d) unrealistick. Adjectives ending in -istic, like artistic and optimistic, finish with a plain c and no k.
Spell Probe
Find the misspelt word in the sentence and choose its meaning:
Hoping to read fifty novels during a two-week holiday was unrealstic, so Leo set a target of five.
a) a long written story about made-up people
b) not likely to work out in real life
c) an aim that someone sets out to reach
d) a period of rest away from school or work
Show answer
b) not likely to work out in real life. The misspelt word has lost the i before st; it describes Leo's hope of reading fifty books.
Word Puzzle
Match the words with the correct options:
1. unrealistic 2. punctual 3. curious a. eager to know or learn about something b. aiming at goals that real life will not allow c. arriving or doing things at the agreed time
a) 1-b, 2-c, 3-a
b) 1-b, 2-a, 3-c
c) 1-a, 2-c, 3-b
d) 1-c, 2-a, 3-b
Show answer
a) 1-b, 2-c, 3-a. A punctual person is on time, a curious one wants to find out, and an unrealistic plan aims at what real life will not allow.
Word Tally
How many words are misspelt in the sentence?
Painting the whole colourfull mural in one afternoon was unrealistic, so the art club shared the work over three weekends and finished it in time for the exibition at the end of term.
a) 3
b) 0
c) 1
d) 2
Show answer
d) 2. Colourful ends in a single l and exhibition has a silent h after the x; every other word is right.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which of these goals is the most unrealistic for a Class 6 pupil?
a) to practise spelling for ten minutes a day
b) to learn every word in the dictionary by Friday
c) to read one new book every month
d) to tidy the school bag every evening
Show answer
b) to learn every word in the dictionary by Friday
2. Which word could best replace unrealistic in 'Finishing the model in one hour is unrealistic'?
a) untidy
b) unusual
c) unkind
d) impractical
Show answer
d) impractical
