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

To build it, Samsung tapped a number of experts—including people with actual low vision—in order to do the proverbial brain-picking and identify what people want and can tolerate. —Steven Aquino, Forbes, 1 Oct. 2024

Moreover, the narrative felt confusing and meaningless, with a mix of genres and no actual theme or climax. —Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 1 Oct. 2024

The North American Flame Retardant Alliance, which represents makers and users of flame resistant chemicals, told CNN the new study does not account for actual levels of exposures in humans or any exposure pathways. —Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 1 Oct. 2024

Come the actual holiday season, the one where an intruder brings presents and not a machete, Shudder will debut a brand new Ghoul log. —Tony Maglio, IndieWire, 1 Oct. 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