actual

adjective

ac·​tu·​al ˈak-ch(ə-w)əl 

-sh(ə-w)əl;

-chü-əl,

-shü-

1

a

: existing in fact or reality

actual events

actual and imagined conditions

b

: not false or apparent

actual costs

c

—used for emphasis

This is the actual room in which my grandfather was born.

2

: existing or occurring at the time

caught in the actual commission of a crime

3

obsolete : active

Synonyms

• real
• factual
• true

Examples of actual in a Sentence

They signed the agreement in the spring, but the actual sale wasn't made until that summer.

You deposit money in a bank account but the actual money is not held there.

The actual cost of the repair was much higher than the estimate.

Recent Examples on the Web

Hanke recommends allowing the peso to float for around 60 days, enabling market forces to determine its actual worth in terms of dollars. —Shawn Tully, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2025

In short, American leagues are set up like actual businesses, where everyone can make some money, while those over here are a collection of Wild Wests where only those with the deepest pockets can compete. —Matt Slater, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025

By weaving Hartley's story into the narrative, Murphy explored the fear and paranoia that surrounded rural Wisconsin during the time of Gein’s actual crimes. —Samantha Stutsman, PEOPLE, 7 Oct. 2025

More than a third of Americans don’t even read the news, and an astonishing number of people from both parties report actual hatred for one another—including 23 percent in 2023 who favored violence should the opposing party win the next election. —Literary Hub, 7 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, "active, existing in fact," borrowed from Anglo-French & Late Latin; Anglo-French actuel, borrowed from Late Latin āctuālis, from Latin āctus act entry 1 + -ālis -al entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Phrases Containing actual

• actual cash value
• in actual fact

Kids Definition

actual

adjective

ac·​tu·​al ˈak-ch(ə-w)əl 

ˈak-sh(ə-w)əl

: existing in fact and not merely as a possibility

actuality

ˌak-chə-ˈwal-ət-ē

-shə-

noun

actualization

ˈak-ch(ə-w)ə-lə-ˈzā-shən

-sh(ə-w)ə-

noun

actualize

-ˌīz

verb

Legal Definition

actual

adjective

ac·​tu·​al

: existing in fact or reality compare constructive

actually adverb