ac·tu·al

[ak-choo-uhl]
adjective
1.
existing in act or fact; real: an actual case of heroism; actual expenses.
2.
existing now; present; current: The ship's actual position is 22 miles due east of Miami.
3.
Obsolete. pertaining to or involving acts or action.

Origin:
1275–1325; < Late Latin āctuālis, equivalent to Latin āctu- (stem of action noun āctus; see act) + -ālis -al1; replacing Middle English actuel < Middle French < Latin

ac·tu·al·ness, noun
non·ac·tu·al, adjective
non·ac·tu·al·ness, noun


1. genuine, authentic, veritable. See real1.


1. unreal, fictional.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source Link To actual
00:10
Actual is always a great word to know.
So is ninnyhammer. Does it mean:
the offspring of a zebra and a donkey.
a fool or simpleton; ninny.
Collins
World English Dictionary
actual (ˈæktʃʊəl) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
adj
1.  existing in reality or as a matter of fact
2.  real or genuine
3.  existing at the present time; current
4.  informal, facetious often (Brit) (usually preceded by your) (intensifier): that music's by your actual Mozart, isn't it?
 
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 & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History

actual
early 14c., "pertaining to an action," from O.Fr. actuel "now existing, up to date" (13c.), from L.L. actualis "active," adj. form of L. actus (see act). The broader sense of "real" (as opposed to potential, ideal, etc.) is due to infl. of Fr. actualite.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Example sentences
Try to find an actual travel brochure of the area and compare your brochure to the real one.
It's a common mistake for a proposal writer to fall into writing the actual dissertation in the process of laying it out.
Within the brain, these signals derived from the taste bud cause the actual sensation of sweetness.
These ratings were compared with those of actual residents.
Copyright © 2013 Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
  • Please Login or Sign Up to use the Recent Searches feature
FAVORITES
RECENT