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• real time
  real time

  noun

  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.
• real-time
  real-time

  adjective

  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.

real time

¹ American  

[ree-uhl, reel] / ˈri əl, ril /

noun

• real times
  plural

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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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• real times
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of real time

First recorded in 1950–55

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

real time real-time

"Our team worked on this experiment for many years. Now, we can track electrons moving across the entire energy landscape of a solid in real time," says Rupert Huber.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 14, 2026

It has become essential for managing user requests for generative AI in real time, as these require processing vast amounts of data.

From Barron's ● Nov. 12, 2026

"We had to explore and dig deep to hear and see how this experiment can work in real time - that was huge to see," he said.

From BBC ● Oct. 31, 2026

In Spain, we are seeing this decline in real time.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2026

In real time, the universe has a beginning and an end at singularities that form a boundary to space-time and at which the laws of science break down.

From "A Brief History of Time: And Other Essays" by Stephen Hawking

The team also performed complementary experiments in Prague, where samples could be examined over longer periods outside the real-time imaging setup.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 13, 2026

As millions of 2026 ballots are being counted, our contributors will offer real-time commentary on the state of play.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 4, 2026

When Cal Fire began advertising a new app for near real-time updates on wildfires and evacuations this month, Instagram users quickly noticed some similarities to another app on their phone.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 30, 2026

“That has now proliferated into a myth that won’t quit, yet it isn’t actually helpful in today’s algorithms, as airlines price in real-time based on inventory.”

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 28, 2026

There were no windows, but the walls were enchanted to show real-time footage from Camp Half-Blood—the beach, the forest, the strawberry fields—although now Leo was wondering if this made people homesick rather than happy.

From "The Mark of Athena" by Rick Riordan

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