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.
Increasingly, it is institutionalized through large civic spaces designed, funded and operated in real time. Andre Dowell, Chicago Tribune, 8 June 2026 Bangladesh’s ThreadBridge is applying AI directly to factory floors through smart glasses that detect fabric defects in real time, helping manufacturers reduce waste before garments reach the cutting stage. Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 8 June 2026 Millions of viewers from around the world watch the bears in real time on the zoo’s Panda Cam. Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 June 2026 Within seconds, the map on the screen updates in real time, a marker pinpointing the caller’s location. Walker Armstrong, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 June 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 10 Jun. 2026.

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