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

The US president has been commenting on the conflict almost in real time in seemingly off-the-cuff exchanges with reporters, including from AFP, who call his cell phone.

From Barron's • Apr. 21, 2026

To prepare for this summer, the Eastlands have installed a series of water meters that measure river levels and currents in real time and will sound alarms automatically.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 18, 2026

We just don’t have the tools to address this in real time, the way we all experience the crisis.

From Slate • Apr. 15, 2026

"These results are an important piece of the larger puzzle of what is going on in the overall population as they attempt to adapt to climate change in real time."

From Science Daily • Apr. 13, 2026

People are always talking about real-time—real-time stock quotes, real-time information, real-time news—but in here I think I had real-time real time.

From "It’s Kind of a Funny Story" by Ned Vizzini