real time

noun

: the actual time during which something takes place
… the computer may partly analyze the data in real time (as it comes in) …R. H. March
chatted online in real time
real-time adjective

Examples of real time in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The full draft order, updated in real time, can be found at The Athletic’s live picks tracker. Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026 This is a quiet rollback of protections, and our communities are paying the price in real time. Ximena Bustillo, NPR, 25 Apr. 2026 One of Morgan’s priorities is to increase transparency around how California spends public dollars by publishing state agencies’ ledgers online and in real time. William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 25 Apr. 2026 The foundation of modern cybersecurity, the idea that strong enough walls will keep data safe, is being tested in real time by a technology that moves faster than any human team can. Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 25 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for real time

Word History

First Known Use

1946, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of real time was in 1946

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Real time.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/real%20time. Accessed 28 Apr. 2026.

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