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

Viewers will also hear actual dialogue between Mission Control and astronauts from the Apollo mission. —Brian Steinberg, Variety, 9 Feb. 2026

The taco stand in the show is an homage to an actual taqueria in Los Angeles’s Highland Park, named Villas Tacos, with owner Victor himself actually at the grill as Benito walks past. —Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Feb. 2026

Bad Bunny threw a joyous dance party Sunday night that started in a sugar cane field, featured Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin, and included an actual wedding. —Theresa Braine, Chicago Tribune, 9 Feb. 2026

The actual completion of the tasks seemed rather tiresome, so the model opened the checklist, ticked everything off, and called it a day. —Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 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