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

Some new products, like Bubble Waffles, actual vanilla beans, and Mocha Latte Pretzels came and teased us before disappearing into the Graveyard of Unscaleable Delights. —Alex Beggs, Bon Appétit, 12 Dec. 2024

But Survivor 46 gave us something that has been sorely lacking in the new kinder, gentler era of the show — some actual spice. —Dalton Ross, EW.com, 12 Dec. 2024

Many doctors are also understandably cautious about prescribing the drug to people who don’t have an actual medical condition, because it’s been abused for decades by athletes and healthy men looking to improve their physique. —Nicholas Florko, The Atlantic, 12 Dec. 2024

The actual date of their nuptials was only revealed in their divorce documents. —Charna Flam, People.com, 12 Dec. 2024

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