May 30, 2026 · The meaning of ACTUAL is existing in fact or reality. How to use actual in a sentence.

Actual is an adjective meaning ‘true’, ‘real’ and ‘the thing in itself’. It does not refer to time. Actual always comes immediately before the noun it is describing: …

ACTUAL definition: existing in act or fact; real. See examples of actual used in a sentence.

1. existing in act, fact, or reality; real: an actual case; the actual cost. 2. existing now; present; current: the ship's actual position.

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.

There are 13 meanings listed in OED's entry for the word actual, two of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

Actual is used to emphasize that you are referring to something real or genuine.

Find 86 different ways to say ACTUAL, along with antonyms, related words, and example sentences at Thesaurus.com.

Definition of actual adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

Feb 23, 2026 · “Actual” is an adjective used to describe something that is real or factual, as opposed to what might be expected or assumed. For example, if you say, “The actual cost of the meal was …