real time

¹ American  

[ree-uhl, reel] / ˈri əl, ril /

noun

1. Computers. the actual time elapsed in the performance of a computation by a computer, the result of the computation being required for the continuation of a physical process.

2. the actual time during which a process takes place or an event occurs.

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idioms

1. in real time, at once; instantaneously.

real-time ² American  

[ree-uhl-tahym, reel-] / ˈri əlˈtaɪm, ˈril- /

adjective

Computers.

1. of or relating to applications in which the computer must respond as rapidly as required by the user or necessitated by the process being controlled.

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real-time British  

adjective

1. denoting or relating to a data-processing system in which a computer receives constantly changing data, such as information relating to air-traffic control, travel booking systems, etc, and processes it sufficiently rapidly to be able to control the source of the data

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real-time Cultural  

1. A term used to describe computer systems that update information at the same rate as they receive data.

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Etymology

Origin of real time

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

Now those concerns are playing out in real time.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 3, 2026

That ability to react in real time to shoppers’ preferences may be more of a challenge as Revolve goes offline to some extent.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

Team owners approved a rule Tuesday allowing the league to intervene from its New York headquarters and correct officiating errors in real time using replay technology.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 31, 2026

"Markets can look skittish or confused, but what they're really doing is managing event risk in real time, with oil sitting right at the centre of that."

From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026

ANGELA: I’m relaying it real time to my cloud account anyway!

From "Burning Blue" by Paul Griffin