English Explanatory Dictionary

actual

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj

relating to a person's acts or deeds; active, practical
Existing in reality, not just potentially; really acted or acting; occurring in fact.
in action at the time being; now existing; current.
Used as intensifier to emphasise a following noun; exact, specific, very.

noun

an actual, real one; notably:
something actually received; real receipts, as distinct from estimated ones.
a radio callsign modifier that specifies the commanding officer of the unit or asset denoted by the remainder of the callsign and not the officer's assistant or other designee.
Reality, usually with the definite article.

Pronunciation

/ˈækʃuəl/ /ˈækʃəl/ /ˈæktʃuəl/ /ˈæktʃəl/ /ˈæktjʊəl/ /ˈæktjəl/ /ˈæt͡ʃəl/ en-us-actual.ogg /ˈaktʃʊwəl/

Word forms

actual actuals

Etymology

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.

Synonyms

Antonyms

potential possible virtual speculative conceivable theoretical nominal hypothetical estimated

Related words

activity actor actuary certain genuine

Derived words

actual bodily harm actual cash value actual cost actual flying time actualism actualist actualistic actuality actualization actualize actually actual malice actualness actual neurosis actual occasions actual parameter actual sin nonactual unactual

Translations

Bulgarian: действи́телен Dutch: eigenlijk Dutch: feitelijk Finnish: suoranainen German: tatsächlich Italian: presente Portuguese: em si Russian: настоя́щий Turkish: esas Turkish: asıl

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