SINCE 1828
real time
nounDefinition of real time
: 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
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Biden’s weak debate performance was called out in real time last night by Julián Castro. — Lucy Diavolo, Teen Vogue, "Joe Biden's Democratic Debate Performance Raises Serious Questions About His 2020 Campaign," 13 Sep. 2019 There, works on display for September include selections from the five artists who’ll be facing off in real time at the Mobile Arts Council fundraiser known as The Throwdown. — al, "Mobile’s art walk offers preview of ‘Throwdown’ battle," 12 Sep. 2019 Antetokounmpo is a 24-year-old MVP still learning to puzzle out the action in real time. — Rob Mahoney, SI.com, "Top 100 NBA Players of 2020," 12 Sep. 2019 Smart buildings—from airports to office blocks—can already track the people who move through them in real time. — The Economist, "Drastic falls in cost are powering another computer revolution," 12 Sep. 2019 Marschak used staccato repeated notes to reveal a text written by Meites at age 4 about paper floating like a butterfly, as though the thoughts were coming out of the precocious boy in real time, each word a discovery. — Los Angeles Times, "Review: Musicians turn the Big Dipper into an ‘interstellar cantata,’ with help from NASA," 11 Sep. 2019 Back then, the most exciting, and sometimes most culture-defining, slang was being coined constantly, in real time. — Wired, "What Happened to Urban Dictionary?," 11 Sep. 2019 Footage is not watched in real time and only after an incident do police request camera footage, if available. — Elizabeth Marie Himchak, Pomerado News, "Concerns raised over City of San Diego’s Smart Streetlights program," 11 Sep. 2019 Both farmers and chefs are powered by a resilient spirit that can be witnessed in real time, as La Placita de Santurce is packed once more with dancers balancing flaky empanadillas and Medalla beer. — Aliza Abarbanel, Bon Appétit, "Where to Eat in San Juan, Where Restaurants Aren’t Just Rebuilding—They’re Thriving," 10 Sep. 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'real time.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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