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
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
However, because of the time required to design and produce the actual medal, the ceremony in the U.S. Capitol wasn't on the books until recently.
—
Rachel Treisman, NPR, 29 Apr. 2025
The mostly instrumental project kicks off its time at No. 37 on the Official Soundtrack Albums chart, joining the actual soundtrack inside the top 40.
—Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025
Golden State shuts down Jalen Green Game 4 was marred by a myriad of skirmishes, which detracted from the actual basketball to some degree, but the Warriors’ pressure on Jalen Green — and how the Rockets responded — will ultimately determine how the rest of this series plays out.
—Anthony Slater, New York Times, 29 Apr. 2025
Recent findings show a persistent disconnect between brand strategies and the actual consumer experience, especially in the digital landscape.
—Rhett Power, Rolling Stone, 28 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for actual
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Rachel Treisman, NPR, 29 Apr. 2025
The mostly instrumental project kicks off its time at No. 37 on the Official Soundtrack Albums chart, joining the actual soundtrack inside the top 40.
—Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025
Golden State shuts down Jalen Green Game 4 was marred by a myriad of skirmishes, which detracted from the actual basketball to some degree, but the Warriors’ pressure on Jalen Green — and how the Rockets responded — will ultimately determine how the rest of this series plays out.
—Anthony Slater, New York Times, 29 Apr. 2025
Recent findings show a persistent disconnect between brand strategies and the actual consumer experience, especially in the digital landscape.
—Rhett Power, Rolling Stone, 28 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for actual
Cite this Entry
“Actual.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/actual. Accessed 3 May. 2025.
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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