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
Three hours before the Rangers threw the first pitch to the Cincinnati Reds on Friday afternoon, Texas Rangers fans posed for pictures in front of the new statue of an actual Texas Ranger in the left field plaza.
—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Apr. 2026
The plan was not only to speak the truth, but to also show that same truth over and over again through the presentation of actual evidence.
—Marina Watts, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Apr. 2026
By the actual year 2001, humans had not built lunar bases.
—Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 3 Apr. 2026
As for the actual contest, the meaning is very much to be determined.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for actual
Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Apr. 2026
The plan was not only to speak the truth, but to also show that same truth over and over again through the presentation of actual evidence.
—Marina Watts, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Apr. 2026
By the actual year 2001, humans had not built lunar bases.
—Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 3 Apr. 2026
As for the actual contest, the meaning is very much to be determined.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for actual
Recent Examples of Synonyms for actual
Adjective
-
Congress rarely manages to assemble bipartisan housing legislation of any real ambition, which makes the Senate’s recent passage of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act a remarkable feat.—
Brad Hargreaves,
Washington Post,
7 Apr. 2026
-
On the weekends, there are pony rides outside the Cinema dei Piccoli, but the real highlight is the San Carlino theater on Viale dei Bambini—which literally translates to 'Kids' Street'—where there’s an ever-changing roster of Italian puppet shows.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The latter rewards attention and can blame harmful content on users, while AI’s customers usually want factual information, often for business-critical decisions, and AI companies are on the hook for any errors their tools make.—
Tom Chivers,
semafor.com,
5 Apr. 2026
-
In Australia, deaths from hepatitis C were almost halved compared with counter-factual estimates, and the program was found to be cost-saving over time.—
Michael Rose,
STAT,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
According to a Chicago Blackhawks team source, those reports — that the PWHL would be coming to the Blackhawks’ facility — are not true.—
Hailey Salvian,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026
-
In fairness to Brown, this is true.—
Brandy Jensen,
New Yorker,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Actual.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/actual. Accessed 10 Apr. 2026.
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