Word
actual
Phoneticsac·tu·al
US/ˈækʃəɫ/
UK/ˈæktʃuːəl/
Definitions
01real or existing
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. real and existing in fact, not just an idea or a possibility.
adj. existing in fact or reality; distinguished from what is merely possible, planned, or intended.
“The actual cost of the car was much higher than the price on the sticker.”
“While the initial proposal seemed affordable, the actual expenses incurred during the first quarter exceeded the budget by twenty percent.”
Usage
Always placed before the noun it modifies.
Pitfall
I am actual living in London.
I am actually living in London.
Use the adverb 'actually' to modify a verb. 'Actual' is an adjective and must modify a noun.
Antonyms
02emphasis
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. used to emphasize that you are talking about the exact or real thing.
adj. used as an intensifier to emphasize the precision or identity of the following noun.
“I was surprised to meet the actual author of the book at the party.”
“It wasn't just a similar model; it was the actual car used in the original film production.”
Usage
Used for emphasis; non-gradable.
03real figures
C1 · Advanced Plural noun Finance Technical
n. the real amounts or facts, especially in business, compared to what was expected.
n. real-world data or results, typically contrasted with estimates, projections, or budget targets.
“The manager compared the monthly actuals against the yearly budget.”
“The quarterly report highlights a significant variance between our forecasted revenue and the actuals reported by the regional branches.”
Usage
Usually used in the plural ('actuals') in financial reporting.
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “actual” in context.
Adjective
01. actual amount
“The actual amount of money spent was higher than the original budget.”
adj + noun
02. actual behaviour
“Researchers studied the actual behaviour of animals in the wild.”
adj + noun
03. actual content
“The cover is beautiful, but the actual content of the book is disappointing.”
adj + noun
04. actual data
“We need to base our conclusions on actual data rather than assumptions.”
adj + noun
05. actual event
“The movie is based on an actual event that happened in 1992.”
adj + noun
06. actual experience
“She has no actual experience in teaching, though she has a degree.”
adj + noun
07. actual fact
“In actual fact, the project was completed ahead of schedule.”
adj + noun
08. actual implementation
“The actual implementation of the new policy will begin next month.”
adj + noun
09. actual knowledge
“The witness had no actual knowledge of the crime taking place.”
adj + noun
10. actual level
“The test results showed his actual level of English was B2.”
adj + noun
11. actual mechanism
“Scientists are still trying to understand the actual mechanism of the virus.”
adj + noun
12. actual number
“The actual number of attendees was much lower than we expected.”
adj + noun
Confusables
Actual means real or factual, while current means happening right now.
RememberActual = Fact. Current = Calendar.
Real-World Examples
“I was told my heart age was four years younger than my actual age, and on the whole, I was in tip-top health.” “Parents’ level of stress weighs more heavily than their children’s actual behavior when it comes to setting screen time limits.” “The output of the models was, for each dosimeter, within five percent of the actual measured data.” “Either way, there are good laptops you can buy for a lot less than this, including the actual MacBook Pro.” 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.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
Related words
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Very common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/actual