actual
adjective
ac·tu·al
ˈak-ch(ə-w)əl 
-sh(ə-w)əl;
-chü-əl,
-shü-
1
a
: existing in fact or reality
actual events
actual and imagined conditions
b
: not false or apparent
actual costs
c
—used for emphasis
This is the actual room in which my grandfather was born.
2
: existing or occurring at the time
caught in the actual commission of a crime
3
obsolete
: active
Synonyms
Examples of actual in a Sentence
They signed the agreement in the spring, but the actual sale wasn't made until that summer.
You deposit money in a bank account but the actual money is not held there.
The actual cost of the repair was much higher than the estimate.
Recent Examples on the Web
The Stronach Group, which bought majority interest in Pimlico in 2002, gave the track to the state of Maryland with the actual transfer taking place on July 1.
—
John Cherwa, Los Angeles Times, 19 May 2024
For the most part, Jia’s new-old film features little sync dialogue and unfolds as a flowing series of extended montages with a musicality that is a splendid testament to the work of its three editors, Yang Chao, Lin Xudong and Matthieu Laclau — not to mention the use of actual music.
—Jessica Kiang, Variety, 18 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for actual 
John Cherwa, Los Angeles Times, 19 May 2024
For the most part, Jia’s new-old film features little sync dialogue and unfolds as a flowing series of extended montages with a musicality that is a splendid testament to the work of its three editors, Yang Chao, Lin Xudong and Matthieu Laclau — not to mention the use of actual music.
—Jessica Kiang, Variety, 18 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for actual
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'actual.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near actual
Cite this Entry
“Actual.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/actual. Accessed 21 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
actual
adjective
ac·tu·al
ˈak-ch(ə-w)əl
ˈak-sh(ə-w)əl
: existing in fact and not merely as a possibility
actuality
noun
ˌak-chə-ˈwal-ət-ē
-shə-
actualization
noun
ˈak-ch(ə-w)ə-lə-ˈzā-shən
-sh(ə-w)ə-
actualize
verb
-ˌīz
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