actual

ac·tu·al

adjective \ˈak-ch(ə-w)əl, -sh(ə-w)əl; -chü-əl, -shü-\

Definition of ACTUAL

1

obsolete : active

2

a : existing in act and not merely potentially

b : existing in fact or reality <actual and imagined conditions>

c : not false or apparent <actual costs>

3

: existing or occurring at the time <caught in the actual commission of a crime>

Examples of ACTUAL

1. They signed the agreement in the spring, but the actual sale wasn't made until that summer.
2. You deposit money in a bank account but the actual money is not held there.
3. The actual cost of the repair was much higher than the estimate.

Origin of ACTUAL

Middle English actuel, from Late Latin actualis, from Latin actus act

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to ACTUAL

Synonyms

concrete, de facto, effective, existent, factual, genuine, real, sure-enough, true, very

Antonyms

conjectural, hypothetical, ideal, inexistent, nonexistent, platonic, possible, potential, suppositional, theoretical (also theoretic)

Related Words

attested, authenticated, confirmed, demonstrated, established, proven, substantiated, valid, validated, verified; incontestable, incontrovertible, indisputable, indubitable, inescapable, irrefutable, undeniable, unquestionable; believable, convincing, literal, realistic, unmistakable, verifiable; authentic, bona fide, real-life, real-world; absolute, certain, final, hard, objective, palpable, positive, substantial, tangible; authoritative, certifiable, certified

Near Antonyms

alleged, assumed, reputed, supposed; conceived, envisaged, envisioned, imagined, pictured, visualized; chimerical (also chimeric), fabled, fanciful, fictional, fictitious, illusory, legendary; fabricated, fake, imaginary, invented, made-up, make-believe, pretend, romantic; abstract, symbolic, unreal; virtual