actuality

noun

ˌak-chə-ˈwa-lə-tē How to pronounce actuality (audio)
Definition of actualitynext
1
as in existence
the fact of being or of being real the actuality of the Abominable Snowman is not taken seriously by scientists

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in reality
the quality of being actual the actuality of equal opportunity depends on more than just having laws that supposedly ensure it

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in realization
the state of being actual or complete the actuality of a manned flight to the moon would never have been believed a hundred years ago

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in case
something that actually exists these estimated tax revenues, from casinos that have yet to be built, are being treated as actualities

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of actuality The two of them stood on Syl's porch, which in actuality was just a wide, square block of cement. — Danielle Parker, CBS News, 2 June 2026 In actuality, the term refers to the trace levels of cocaine and its breakdown products that exist in waterways. — Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 30 May 2026 In actuality, Truman had won the election. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 May 2026 The film eliminated even a gesture toward a plot while showing solitary nonprofessional and real-life ranch-hand Misael Saavedra chopping and hauling logs in the Argentinian hinterlands (in actuality, Alonso’s family’s ranch). — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 25 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for actuality
Recent Examples of Synonyms for actuality
  1. existence
  2. reality
  3. realization
  4. case
  5. fact
  6. accomplishment
  7. achievement
  8. success
Noun
  • Payne is all too familiar with the ups and downs of Little Feat, which disbanded and regrouped twice in its first four years of existence alone.
    — George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Aug. 2026
  • But the 1959 Chrysler Scimitar Town Car Phaeton concept is the only one in existence.
    — James Raia, Mercury News, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of existence
Noun
  • The reality is the childhood vaccination schedule was not created by coincidence.
    — Omer Awan, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Trump posts, traders pounce Traders profit when prices jump up or down, and with his taste for cliffhangers, threats and policy reversals, America’s only reality-TV president provides plenty of potentially market-moving content.
    — Bernard Condon, Los Angeles Times, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of reality
Noun
  • That realization led Brown to her first ghost kitchen space before eventually expanding to a food truck, where Mariah’s Taco Spot became known for its birria tacos, taco boxes, wings and creative specialty tacos.
    — Evan Moore August 3, Charlotte Observer, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Commenting on the key insights from the Q2 preliminary update, Mariani noted strong oil and gas price realizations in the quarter.
    — TipRanks.com, CNBC, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of realization
Noun
  • At the time of his arrest authorities also determined that Taele was a suspect in a robbery case being investigated by the El Segundo Police Department.
    — Antonio Pequeño IV, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2026
  • The complainant, who was not identified in the initial case report, said Celeste was attacked by a dog and dragged through the woods.
    — Rafael Escalera Montoto, Arkansas Online, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of case
Noun
  • Some of the crowd’s energy Friday may have been due to the fact that training camp practices are closed this summer because of construction at the team’s practice facility in uptown Charlotte.
    — Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Fans should embrace the fact that there’s been no bad news through the first three days of practice.
    — Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of fact
Noun
  • Their movements are tracked, conversations are restricted, decisions are tightly controlled, and accomplishments are rewarded with superficial incentives.
    — Kate Wieczorek, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • But his bogus life story of being a wealthy Wall Street player with a college degree and other accomplishments quickly unraveled.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of accomplishment
Noun
  • For the select list of comedians who have sold out the place, filling the arena is considered a pinnacle of achievement.
    — Hillary Atkin, Los Angeles Times, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Any federal funding will depend on negotiations of final agreements and the achievement of project milestones.
    — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of achievement
Noun
  • Miramax's explosive success with Pulp Fiction ignited an indie boom, rewrote Oscar campaigns, and blurred the line between independent cinema and the Hollywood mainstream.
    — Big Think, Big Think, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige reacted to the sequel’s box-office success in a new interview with Variety.
    — Jack Smart, PEOPLE, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of success

Phrases Containing actuality

Browse Nearby Words

actualities
actuality
actualization
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Actuality.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/actuality. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on actuality

Nglish: Translation of actuality for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about actuality

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

How long is a jiffy?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
asap street sign
Figure Out These Acronyms ASAP You don't have to be a NASA engineer to get these...
See All