Skip to content

actual

/ˈækʃuəl/adjective3 syllables

Actual means: being or reflecting the essential or genuine character of something.

Synonyms for actual10

adjective, as in being or reflecting the essential or genuine character of something

genuine, literal, real, true

adjective, as in existing in act or fact

factual, real, existent

adjective, as in presently existing in fact and not merely potential or possible

existent, effective

adjective, as in taking place in reality; not pretended or imitated

real, existent

adjective, as in being or existing at the present moment

current

also used for actual

present, positive

Includes material from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Opposites of actual

potential

What does actual mean?5

adjective

1

being or reflecting the essential or genuine character of something“her actual motive”

2

existing in act or fact“rocks and trees … the actual world”

3

presently existing in fact and not merely potential or possible“the predicted temperature and the actual temperature were markedly different”

4

taking place in reality; not pretended or imitated“we saw the actual wedding on television”

5

being or existing at the present moment“the ship's actual position is 22 miles due south of Key West”

Definitions from the Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Actual in a sentence

  • Born in a lab without an actual mother, she was a test-tube baby.kulupuJeti
  • He has retired, but he is still an actual leader.CM
  • Even after being approved, difficulties might arise in the actual construction of the line.unknown
  • The sentence does not translate the literal meaning, but the actual intended meaning.carlosalberto
  • While this is a breaking change, no actual effect should be visible.hecko2
  • I find striptease frustrating, as it doesn't often culminate in actual sex.Lepotdeterre
  • The actual cost was higher than the estimate.CM
  • Why not simulate quantum physics with actual quantum physics?DJ_Saidez

Sentences from Tatoeba, CC BY 2.0 FR, credited to their authors.