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 setup delivers more than 8,000 TOPS of GPU computing power, allowing the Robocar to process massive volumes of sensor data in real time. Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 8 Jan. 2026 Meanwhile, in Venezuela, the fallout from the attack is still being felt in real time. Ian Crouch, New Yorker, 7 Jan. 2026 Take Monangai’s 8-yard touchdown early in the Giants game in Week 10, a run Johnson enjoyed in real time but truly embraced on video. Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026 Polar bears are leaping through their evolution in real time as rising temperatures threaten their habitat. Devika Rao, TheWeek, 6 Jan. 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 9 Jan. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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