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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of actual
An actual Sophie with an E sighting!
—
Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Oct. 2025
However, the actual science behind almonds and better sleep is a bit more complicated—here’s what to know.
—Kristen Fischer, Health, 30 Oct. 2025
Now the word is that the two could be closer to an actual deal than once thought, wrapping in as well truces over shipbuilding and even agricultural purchases by China.
—Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 29 Oct. 2025
It’s created a lot of tension with her husband (Gabriel Luna), and it’s created a lot of actual space between her and her child (Scarlett Holmes).
—Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for actual
Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Oct. 2025
However, the actual science behind almonds and better sleep is a bit more complicated—here’s what to know.
—Kristen Fischer, Health, 30 Oct. 2025
Now the word is that the two could be closer to an actual deal than once thought, wrapping in as well truces over shipbuilding and even agricultural purchases by China.
—Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 29 Oct. 2025
It’s created a lot of tension with her husband (Gabriel Luna), and it’s created a lot of actual space between her and her child (Scarlett Holmes).
—Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for actual
Recent Examples of Synonyms for actual
Adjective
-
But still, 10 days with no real food suuuuuuuuuuuucks.—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Oct. 2025
-
Inspired by real life, much of her work serves as testimony.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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In factual, the slate includes Bolivian prison doc Inside Out, which goes inside the walls of the notorious San Pedro prison, run by inmates.—
Stewart Clarke,
Deadline,
29 Oct. 2025
-
The outlet also identified multiple factual errors.—
Beatrice Nolan,
Fortune,
28 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
But the true freshman looked poised and undaunted, able to pick up a trio of fourth-down conversions with his arm and more positive yards with his legs.—
Quentin Corpuel,
Kansas City Star,
31 Oct. 2025
-
His portrayal of a pompous, yapping intellectual who's rotten to the core rings uncomfortably true, as do the performances of Thatcher and East as their characters nonverbally communicate their discomfort to each other.—
Dennis Perkins,
Entertainment Weekly,
31 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Actual.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/actual. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.
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