actual

CEFRB2

/ˈækʃuəl/

adjective

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    adjective

    Real or true, rather than imagined or estimated.

  2. 02

    adjective

    Extra detail

    Existing in reality, not just potentially; really acted or acting; occurring in fact.

Examples

  • The actual cost was higher than the estimate.

  • That is an actual fact.

At a glance

Sits at B2 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
1
Citations
5
Synonyms
4

Also pronounced

  • /ˈækʃəl/
  • /ˈæktjʊəl/

Deep Dive

adjective

Extra meanings

  1. in action at the time being; now existing; current.

  2. relating to a person's acts or deeds; active, practical

  3. Used as intensifier to emphasise a following noun; exact, specific, very.

More examples

In context

  • This is an actual happening.

  • Bravo Six Actual, this is Charlie One. Come in, over.

  • The actual government expenses dramatically exceed the budget.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

The blank cost of the renovation was much higher than the initial estimate provided by the contractor.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

adjective

From Middle English actual, actuel (“active”), from Anglo-Norman actuel, actual, and its source Late Latin actuālis (“active, practical”), from Latin actus (“act, action, performance”), from agere (“to do; to act”) + -alis (“-al”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂éǵeti, from the root *h₂eǵ-. By surface analysis, act + -u- + -al.