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

The Curse began with an actual curse, or at least the threat of one. —Seth Abramovitch, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Apr. 2024

The policy agitated many of the app’s young users, who showed up on Capitol Hill – alongside actual lobbyists – to push lawmakers to reject it. —USA TODAY, 24 Apr. 2024

And then the TikToks and the Instagrams started talking about the actual movie. —Nardine Saad, Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 2024

As for the actual liquid in this batch, the bourbon is exactly seven years, seven months, and eight days old and bottled at barrel proof of 124.5. —Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 23 Apr. 2024

But in terms of effecting actual change on the ground, garnering support from other countries’ citizens, and influencing the reform of international institutions, China’s record is more mixed. —Elizabeth Economy, Foreign Affairs, 23 Apr. 2024

When Savina comes to, he’s cuffed to the bed in an actual hospital. —Sara Netzley, EW.com, 23 Apr. 2024

Trice isn’t a twitched up athlete, and considering his actual size, that could drop him down some draft boards. —Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Apr. 2024

But the growth of nonhuman influencers comes at a time when actual performers are worried about how digitization and automation through artificial intelligence could impact future work. —Wendy Lee, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 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