actual
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Related to actual: Actual Cost, actual time
ac·tu·al
(ăk′cho͞o-əl)adj.
1.
a. Existing in reality and not potential, possible, simulated, or false: The actual damages were less than first reported. In the actual test, the mechanism did not work as the computer model predicted. See Synonyms at real1.
b. Based on fact: The actual history of the voyage is different from the popular accounts.
2. Conforming to the characteristics of a group or type; typical: Is he an actual doctor or a fake?
[Middle English, from Old French, active, from Late Latin āctuālis, from Latin āctus, past participle of agere, to drive, do; see ag- in Indo-European roots.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
actual
(ˈæktʃʊəl)adj
1. existing in reality or as a matter of fact
2. real or genuine
3. existing at the present time; current
4. (usually preceded by your) informal often facetious Brit (intensifier): that music's by your actual Mozart, isn't it?.
[C14: actuel existing, from Late Latin āctuālis relating to acts, practical, from Latin āctus act]
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
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
ac•tu•al
(ˈæk tʃu əl)adj.
1. existing in act, fact, or reality; real: an actual case; the actual cost.
2. existing now; present; current: the ship's actual position.
ac′tu•al•ness, n.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
actual
1. 'actual'
You use actual to emphasize that the place, object, or person you are talking about is the real or genuine one.
The predicted results and the actual results are very different.
The interpretation bore no relation to the actual words spoken.
Be Careful!
You only use actual in front of a noun. You do not say that something 'is actual'.
2. 'current' and 'present'
You do not use 'actual' to describe something that is happening, being done, or being used at the present time. Instead you use current or present.
The store needs more than $100,000 to survive the current crisis.
Is the present situation really any different from many others in the past?
Collins COBUILD English Usage © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 2004, 2011, 2012
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
Adj. | 1. | actual - presently existing in fact and not merely potential or possible; "the predicted temperature and the actual temperature were markedly different"; "actual and imagined conditions" |
2. | actual - taking place in reality; not pretended or imitated; "we saw the actual wedding on television"; "filmed the actual beating" | |
3. | ![]() true - consistent with fact or reality; not false; "the story is true"; "it is undesirable to believe a proposition when there is no ground whatever for supposing it true"- B. Russell; "the true meaning of the statement" | |
4. | actual - existing in act or fact; "rocks and trees...the actual world"; "actual heroism"; "the actual things that produced the emotion you experienced" | |
5. | ![]() current - occurring in or belonging to the present time; "current events"; "the current topic"; "current negotiations"; "current psychoanalytic theories"; "the ship's current position" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
actual
adjective
1. genuine, real, true, confirmed, authentic, verified, truthful, bona fide, dinkum (Austral & N.Z. informal) They are using local actors or the actual people involved.
genuine made-up, probable, untrue, unreal, fictitious
genuine made-up, probable, untrue, unreal, fictitious
2. real, substantial, concrete, definite, tangible She had written some notes, but she hadn't started the actual work.
real supposed, theoretical, hypothetical
real supposed, theoretical, hypothetical
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
actual
adjective2. Not counterfeit or copied:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
TranslationsSelect a language:
Spanish / Español
actual
[ˈæktjʊəl]A. ADJ
1. (= real) → real
the actual number is much higher than that → el número real es mucho más alto
the film was based on actual events → la película estaba basada en hechos reales
let's take an actual case/example → tomemos un caso/ejemplo concreto
there is no actual contract → no hay contrato propiamente dicho
you met an actual film star? → ¿has conocido a una estrella de cine de verdad?
in actual fact → en realidad
actual size → tamaño m real
the actual number is much higher than that → el número real es mucho más alto
the film was based on actual events → la película estaba basada en hechos reales
let's take an actual case/example → tomemos un caso/ejemplo concreto
there is no actual contract → no hay contrato propiamente dicho
you met an actual film star? → ¿has conocido a una estrella de cine de verdad?
in actual fact → en realidad
actual size → tamaño m real
2. (= precise) [amount, figure] → exacto; [words] → exacto, textual
I don't remember the actual figures → no recuerdo las cifras exactas
what were his actual words? → ¿cuáles fueron sus palabras exactas or textuales?
I don't remember the actual figures → no recuerdo las cifras exactas
what were his actual words? → ¿cuáles fueron sus palabras exactas or textuales?
3. (= very) they couldn't find the actual gun that was used → no encontraron el arma que se utilizó
the film used the actual people involved as actors → la película utilizó como actores a los implicados
the film used the actual people involved as actors → la película utilizó como actores a los implicados
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
actual
(ˈӕktʃuəl) adjective real; existing; not imaginary. In actual fact he is not as stupid as you think he is.real
ˌactuˈality (-ˈӕ-) noun (a) reality. the actuality of the situation.realidad
ˈactually adverb1. really. She actually saw the accident happen.en realidad, realmente
2. in fact. Actually, I'm doing something else this evening.de hecho
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
actual
→ realMultilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
actual
a. actual, real, verdadero-a;
adv. en realidad, actualmente;
the ___ symptom → el síntoma verdadero.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012