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
Too bad an actual TCA Awards ceremony doesn’t exist at the moment.
—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
19 June 2026
Aegon’s Dream, with its White Walkers, dead dragons, and Dany surviving the fire with her three dragon eggs, have inspired in Daemon some actual responsibility and desire to win this war outside just personal ambition.
—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
19 June 2026
There are only so many records KPop Demon Hunters can break, with many at actual award shows like the Oscars or on the Billboard charts, but loads of them are on Netflix itself.
—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
Different elements such as oxygen and hydrogen emit light at very specific wavelengths; discerning such details allows astronomers to nail down an object’s actual redshift—and thus its true distance—with excellent accuracy.
—
Phil Plait,
Scientific American,
19 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for actual
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
19 June 2026
Aegon’s Dream, with its White Walkers, dead dragons, and Dany surviving the fire with her three dragon eggs, have inspired in Daemon some actual responsibility and desire to win this war outside just personal ambition.
—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
19 June 2026
There are only so many records KPop Demon Hunters can break, with many at actual award shows like the Oscars or on the Billboard charts, but loads of them are on Netflix itself.
—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
Different elements such as oxygen and hydrogen emit light at very specific wavelengths; discerning such details allows astronomers to nail down an object’s actual redshift—and thus its true distance—with excellent accuracy.
—
Phil Plait,
Scientific American,
19 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for actual
Recent Examples of Synonyms for actual
Adjective
-
But what if the real story is something much bigger?
-
The investment bank was less enthusiastic about gold as a hedge, noting that higher real yields and a stronger dollar have weighed on bullion prices, while gold options have become relatively expensive compared with equity and rates derivatives.
Adjective
-
The prior Minnesota Anti-SLAPP law required that the court make certain pre-trial factual findings which was held to violate the right to a jury trial.
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Currently in pre-production and without a sales agent, the project carries strong environmental timeliness and a genuinely global geographic canvas that should attract factual commissioners.
Adjective
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From viral Aldi Finds to tried-and-true products shoppers love to tell their friends about, people love the thrill of discovering something new here.
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That rugged access is part of the appeal for buyers seeking a true escape rather than a weekend cabin with neighbors in sight.
Cite this Entry
“Actual.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/actual. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.
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