actual

adjective

ac·​tu·​al ˈak-ch(ə-w)əl 

-sh(ə-w)əl;

-chü-əl,

-shü-

1

a

: existing in fact or reality

actual events

actual and imagined conditions

b

: not false or apparent

actual costs

c

—used for emphasis

This is the actual room in which my grandfather was born.

2

: existing or occurring at the time

caught in the actual commission of a crime

3

obsolete : active

Synonyms

• concrete
• de facto
• effective
• existent
• factual
• genuine
• real
• sure-enough
• true
• very

Examples of actual in a Sentence

They signed the agreement in the spring, but the actual sale wasn't made until that summer.

You deposit money in a bank account but the actual money is not held there.

The actual cost of the repair was much higher than the estimate.

Recent Examples on the Web

Tate’s ideology was everywhere, which is why Barker thinks part of the answer to the manosphere’s reach is highlighting how rhetoric can lead to actual violence. —Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 23 Mar. 2025

And Paul, Weiss then settled that with the administration for basically no actual concessions, except a great press release for President Trump. —ABC News, 23 Mar. 2025

The three actors deliver sharply subtle performances, from Laurie’s passive aggression to Jaclyn’s actual aggression and Kate’s dismay as the de facto mediator. —Proma Khosla, IndieWire, 23 Mar. 2025

Knowledge of actual prices will empower employers and unions to design affordable health plans with billing and payment integrity and will allow swift remedy and recourse for overcharges. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 22 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, "active, existing in fact," borrowed from Anglo-French & Late Latin; Anglo-French actuel, borrowed from Late Latin āctuālis, from Latin āctus act entry 1 + -ālis -al entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Phrases Containing actual

• actual cash value
• in actual fact

Kids Definition

actual

adjective

ac·​tu·​al ˈak-ch(ə-w)əl 

ˈak-sh(ə-w)əl

: existing in fact and not merely as a possibility

actuality

ˌak-chə-ˈwal-ət-ē

-shə-

noun

actualization

ˈak-ch(ə-w)ə-lə-ˈzā-shən

-sh(ə-w)ə-

noun

actualize

-ˌīz

verb

Legal Definition

actual

adjective

ac·​tu·​al

: existing in fact or reality compare constructive

actually adverb