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 wall can display locations in real time, synchronized with cameras and lighting, so the background shifts naturally as the lens moves. Wilborn P. Nobles Iii, Dallas Morning News, 16 Feb. 2026 Fares are inexpensive, and buses can be tracked in real time via the Greenlink app. Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 16 Feb. 2026 Opposition politicians and civil society groups insist that voting results from polling stations must appear in real time on the electoral commission’s website, to guard against tampering with tallies recorded on paper. Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 16 Feb. 2026 The city can pilot standing forums or task forces designed not just to solicit feedback, but to deliberate openly, surface tensions, and work through disagreements in real time. Garrett Lucien, New York Daily News, 16 Feb. 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 19 Feb. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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