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

• 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

Over six minutes, Lazarus went on an off-the-cuff social media run that, the next day, was the buzz of the sports chatter space just as much, if not more, than TCU’s actual performance on the field. —Sean Gregory, Time, 3 Sep. 2025

Hardcore fans of the nine-season NBC comedy classic may even remember that was the actual full name of the show’s in-universe documentary that aired in Season 9. —Andy Meek, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025

This method was made to mirror the actual calendar and stay consistent, as each season lasts around 90-92 days. —Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Sep. 2025

There are scenes of him choosing the weight and transparency of fabrics, but not much insight into his actual creative process. —Caryn James, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2025

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