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.
It can be guided in real time by an overhead drone. Munis Raza, Interesting Engineering, 23 Mar. 2026 Financiers are becoming distributors, distributors are becoming producers, and the traditional pathways for independent films are being rewritten in real time. Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 23 Mar. 2026 Drones provide real time video The Police Department’s Drone as First Responder program, launched in 2025, allows drones to respond to certain calls before officers arrive, providing real-time video of active scenes, tracking suspects and helping coordinate responses on the ground. Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 23 Mar. 2026 The Knicks guard grew up just steps from the intersection of Atlantic and Flatbush Avenues — close enough to watch the area change in real time, long before an NBA arena reshaped the borough. Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 22 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 25 Mar. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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