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 of actual

• real
• factual
• true

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

For midsize brands like Jil Sander or Marni, the clothes are the thing, and both of those brands’ designers – Simone Bellotti and Meryll Rogge, respectively – are interested in dressing an actual client, with little regard for dazzling social media or trickle-down accessories. —Rachel Tashjian, CNN Money, 3 Mar. 2026

And there is an actual Armageddon, an ancient Israelite settlement called Megiddo in northern Israel. —Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 2 Mar. 2026

And approaching actual size is almost like winning the first combine battle, since so many college programs tend to fudge official numbers. —Thomas Jones, Austin American Statesman, 2 Mar. 2026

Unusually, many of the actual dogs were on hand to lay their paws on their gongs, as was the case with the first award, Historical Hound. —Damon Wise, Deadline, 2 Mar. 2026

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