actual

adjective

ac·​tu·​al ˈak-ch(ə-w)əl How to pronounce actual (audio)
-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

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
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
But sentiment isn’t always a good predictor of actual spending behavior. Bryan Mena, CNN, 25 Oct. 2024 So thank your fluttery nerves for doing their job and executing their duty to warn, and then remind yourself that the actual risk is manageable, not a life threat like your body is telling you. Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 25 Oct. 2024 But the actual tunnel is not really the best place to get a fit off. Leah Faye Cooper, Vogue, 25 Oct. 2024 The actual results don’t stem from certain federation playbooks. Expert Panel®, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for actual 

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of actual was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near actual

Cite this Entry

“Actual.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/actual. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

actual

adjective
ac·​tu·​al ˈak-ch(ə-w)əl How to pronounce actual (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on actual

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