as in real
existing in fact and not merely as a possibility
the actual outcome of the election was quite different from what everybody had expected
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Recent Examples of actual
All in all, the game is loaded across the board with minor upgrades that add up to a lot, along with a few actual big changes.
—
Chris Vannini, New York Times, 10 July 2025
As part of this collaboration, select Sephora locations will be offering free scoops of the actual rainbow sherbet on National Ice Cream Day, which is July 20.
—Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 10 July 2025
There’s an ongoing desire to see F1’s actual stars represent the diverse and vast makeup of its fans — is why Dent wrote her female main character as a woman F1 principal.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 28 June 2025
While the audience members could still speak on the item about to be deferred, Rodriguez said, doing so would mean the public wouldn’t have the chance to address commissioners if the item ever came up for an actual vote at a future meeting.
—Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 28 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for actual
Chris Vannini, New York Times, 10 July 2025
As part of this collaboration, select Sephora locations will be offering free scoops of the actual rainbow sherbet on National Ice Cream Day, which is July 20.
—Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 10 July 2025
There’s an ongoing desire to see F1’s actual stars represent the diverse and vast makeup of its fans — is why Dent wrote her female main character as a woman F1 principal.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 28 June 2025
While the audience members could still speak on the item about to be deferred, Rodriguez said, doing so would mean the public wouldn’t have the chance to address commissioners if the item ever came up for an actual vote at a future meeting.
—Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 28 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for actual
Recent Examples of Synonyms for actual
Adjective
-
If no deal is reached by August, there is a real danger that President Trump will impose high tariffs.—
Myron Brilliant,
Time,
9 July 2025
-
When marriages seemed to fail, there was no real option to divorce.—
Ann Foster,
JSTOR Daily,
9 July 2025
Adjective
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But the Court of Appeals ruling said a hearing to present evidence is not always required before issuing a preliminary injunction and if there are no factual disputes.—
Alec Johnson,
jsonline.com,
3 July 2025
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With 74 percent of respondents expressing uncertainty about at least one claim's veracity, the findings highlight the challenge facing voters where shared factual understanding appears increasingly fragmented.—
Adeola Adeosun,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 July 2025
Adjective
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Now, as the families prepare for next week's sentencing hearing on July 23, Patterson and Ward are hoping to give readers a true sense of the four victims.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 July 2025
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What's changing with Gemini on Android Currently, the official email and support pages aren't providing consistent information on Gemini's true behavior regarding this change and how to disable it.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
14 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Actual.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/actual. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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