actual
Americanadjective
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existing in reality or as a matter of fact
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real or genuine
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existing at the present time; current
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informal (usually preceded by your) (intensifier)
that music's by your actual Mozart, isn't it?
Usage
The excessive use of actual and actually should be avoided. They are unnecessary in sentences such as in actual fact, he is forty-two, and he did actually go to the play but did not enjoy it
Synonym Usage
See real 1.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of actual
First recorded in 1275–1325; from Late Latin āctuālis, from Latin āctu(s) act + -ālis -al 1; replacing Middle English actuel, from Middle French, from Latin
Compare meaning
How does actual compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
If you describe something as actual, it really exists or is true. You might excitedly tell your friends that you saw an actual bald eagle land on your mailbox. Use the adjective actual when you want to emphasize that something is certain or confirmed, especially when it's different from what you expected. For example, you might say, "The actual length of my cousin's visit was three weeks, even though she said she'd stay three days." The Old French root is actuel, "now existing," from the Latin word actus, "a doing, driving, or impulse."
Vocabulary lists containing actual
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
That came later, and quieter, when I finally showed up before dawn and did the actual work where no one was filming.
From Salon ● Jul. 15, 2026
The actual date of death ultimately affects only the surviving beneficiaries, if any, and the financial obligations of the U.S. government — not the logic of the decision itself.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 15, 2026
We've also had a coastguard plane as well to do reconnaissance of the actual area.
From BBC ● Jul. 15, 2026
But the Bangkok governor said conditions on the day of inspection may have differed from the venue’s actual operations.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 13, 2026
The hairs on my neck were permanently at attention and the goose bumps on my arms and legs were big enough to hatch into actual geese.
From "Glitch" by Laura Martin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
