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 optimization controller updates in under one millisecond, allowing the robot to respond in real time. Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 3 Mar. 2026 The four-engine jets, based on a Boeing 707 commercial airframe, provide near real time intelligence gathering and analysis, according to an Air Force fact sheet. Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 2 Mar. 2026 As kids change their creations or storylines, the sets respond in real time, creating endlessly evolving adventures and encouraging imaginative, hands-on play. ABC News, 2 Mar. 2026 But reporting from the ground and speaking with multiple Oscar voters over the last week suggests a race unfolding in real time. Clayton Davis, Variety, 2 Mar. 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 4 Mar. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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