as in real
existing in fact and not merely as a possibility
the actual outcome of the election was quite different from what everybody had expected
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Recent Examples of actual
If possible, make the width of the closet doors the same size as the actual closet.
—
Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 15 May 2026
Quantifying the actual contribution of climate change requires long-term data, mechanistic experiments, climate models and statistical frameworks that most disease systems lack.
—John Drake, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
But was unclear Friday whether a deal had been reached between Boeing and a Chinese airline that would make the actual purchase of the planes.
—Steve Kopack, NBC news, 15 May 2026
The temperature is the actual air reading — what a thermometer records in the shade.
—Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for actual
Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 15 May 2026
Quantifying the actual contribution of climate change requires long-term data, mechanistic experiments, climate models and statistical frameworks that most disease systems lack.
—John Drake, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
But was unclear Friday whether a deal had been reached between Boeing and a Chinese airline that would make the actual purchase of the planes.
—Steve Kopack, NBC news, 15 May 2026
The temperature is the actual air reading — what a thermometer records in the shade.
—Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for actual
Recent Examples of Synonyms for actual
Adjective
-
Now, there’s a real mixture of guests hanging around the lobby and breakfast room.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
19 May 2026
-
For audiences, fidelity is often the real sticking point.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 May 2026
Adjective
-
Content that does not fail is content that answers a factual question in a unique manner to how all other websites answer it.—
TerDawn DeBoe,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
-
Such is the nature of the law at work that this or some other factual variation may be the subject of a future ruling – and a future column.—
Dan Eaton,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 May 2026
Adjective
-
Rarely were there any true freaks, which was where their sideshow stood out.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 May 2026
-
Occupying four townhouses, its two-year refurbishment by award-winning architects Holland Harvey and interior designers Studio Est and Studio Mica has created something warm and true to its heritage yet modern, nature-focused and committed to social impact.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
20 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Actual.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/actual. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
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