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
- concrete
- de facto
- effective
- existent
- factual
- genuine
- real
- sure-enough
- true
- very
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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 Doug Lesmerises, Nathan Baird and Stephen Means went year-by-year through the actual brackets to see who the Buckeyes would have played. 
Nathan Baird, cleveland, 12 Sep. 2022 But music fans and family members have long speculated that Cash’s actual cause of death was a broken heart. Fox News, 12 Sep. 2022 The stated desire of your character (to return to your own time) is at odds with the actual desire of a reader (to have as many adventures as possible). Leslie Jamison, The New Yorker, 12 Sep. 2022 But the assessments are very different from true audits, where professional codes demanded actual tests and evidence, former FTC staffers said. Joseph Menn, Washington Post, 12 Sep. 2022 In all, Wellstar invested in AMC in at least two ways: actual investments that improve the aging facility, and extra money to keep operating an unprofitable location. Katherine Landergan, ajc, 12 Sep. 2022 Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons’ rushes, Buccaneers receiver Mike Evans’ gorgeous touchdown grab, a productive ground day for Tampa running back Leonard Fournette — but often there were simply incompletions, near-turnovers and actual turnovers. Jori Epstein, USA TODAY, 12 Sep. 2022 Gun rights advocates argue that tracking sales at gun stores would unfairly target legal gun purchases, since merchant codes just track the type of merchant where the credit or debit card is used, not the actual items purchased. Ken Sweet, Anchorage Daily News, 11 Sep. 2022 Efforts to overhaul the grid and create more storage began a decade ago but have trailed renewable energy generation, like wind and solar farms, in terms of actual installations. WIRED, 11 Sep. 2022 See More
Nathan Baird, cleveland, 12 Sep. 2022 But music fans and family members have long speculated that Cash’s actual cause of death was a broken heart. Fox News, 12 Sep. 2022 The stated desire of your character (to return to your own time) is at odds with the actual desire of a reader (to have as many adventures as possible). Leslie Jamison, The New Yorker, 12 Sep. 2022 But the assessments are very different from true audits, where professional codes demanded actual tests and evidence, former FTC staffers said. Joseph Menn, Washington Post, 12 Sep. 2022 In all, Wellstar invested in AMC in at least two ways: actual investments that improve the aging facility, and extra money to keep operating an unprofitable location. Katherine Landergan, ajc, 12 Sep. 2022 Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons’ rushes, Buccaneers receiver Mike Evans’ gorgeous touchdown grab, a productive ground day for Tampa running back Leonard Fournette — but often there were simply incompletions, near-turnovers and actual turnovers. Jori Epstein, USA TODAY, 12 Sep. 2022 Gun rights advocates argue that tracking sales at gun stores would unfairly target legal gun purchases, since merchant codes just track the type of merchant where the credit or debit card is used, not the actual items purchased. Ken Sweet, Anchorage Daily News, 11 Sep. 2022 Efforts to overhaul the grid and create more storage began a decade ago but have trailed renewable energy generation, like wind and solar farms, in terms of actual installations. WIRED, 11 Sep. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English, "active, existing in fact," borrowed from Anglo-French & Late Latin; Anglo-French actuel, borrowed from Late Latin āctuālis, from Latin āctus act entry 1 + -ālis -al entry 1
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3
Phrases Containing actual
Kids Definition
actual
adjective
ac·tu·al ˈak-chə-wəl
: really existing or happening : not false
The movie is based on actual events.
Legal Definition
actual
adjective
ac·tu·al
: existing in fact or reality compare constructive
actual
adjective
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 Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- real
- factual
- true
- genuine
- very
- final
- literal
- concrete
- existent
- effective
- de facto
- substantiated
- absolute
- substantial
- proven
- valid
- sure-enough
- tangible
- objective
- certain
- realistic
- validated
- demonstrated
- verifiable
- authentic
- convincing
- authenticated
- verified
- confirmed
- established
- unmistakable
- positive
- unquestionable
- indisputable
- real-life
- real-world
- attested
- irrefutable
- undeniable
- incontrovertible
- inescapable
- indubitable
- believable
- incontestable
- bona fide
- authoritative
- palpable
- certified
- hard
- certifiable
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- potential
- hypothetical
- possible
- theoretical
- ideal
- nonexistent
- alleged
- theoretic
- conjectural
- suppositional
- supposed
- fictional
- assumed
- fictitious
- imaginary
- platonic
- imagined
- fabled
- legendary
- envisioned
- illusory
- fake
- reputed
- inexistent
- visualized
- symbolic
- fanciful
- pictured
- virtual
- chimerical
- envisaged
- conceived
- romantic
- abstract
- chimeric
- unreal
- invented
- pretend
- made-up
- fabricated
- make-believe