From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishactualac‧tu‧al /ˈæktʃuəl/ ●●● S1 W2 adjective [only before noun] 1 REAL/NOT IMAGINARYused to emphasize that something is real or exact I’m not joking. Those were his actual words. I know Germany won, but I can’t tell you the actual score. Interest is only charged on the actual amount borrowed. In actual fact (=really), there is little evidence to support the allegations. ► Do not use actual to mean ‘at the present time’. Use current or present: the current (NOT actual) economic policy2 → the actual something
Examples from the Corpus
actual• The actual amount of water needed by the crop depends on the weather conditions.• However, the actual and potential role of the state requires consideration in different terms.• The party took place three days before Daniel's actual birthday.• It is an analysis of the actual communications practices in the global system in terms of traffic.• How does the actual cost compare with the budget?• It's a true story, based on actual events.• But this version involved an actual family everybody knows right here in town.• Headroom isn't such a problem, though, and actual rear seat comfort is very good.• Plus you receive the actual text and not a photocopy, or an actual image file and not a scan.• Although buses are supposed to run every fifteen minutes, the actual waiting time can be up to an hour.actual fact• It is only now clear to me that in actual fact it must have been a day later.• In actual fact, membershiP Patterns differ from one country to the next.• The methodology chapter must reflect the actual facts of the research experience.• In actual fact, the premier was growing more and more disenchanted with the private power lobby.• In actual fact, we do know now a great deal more than when the numbers game began.• In actual fact we spent last night together, here.• In actual fact what he was doing was feathering his own nest at the expense of the nests of the people.• In actual fact, what the monarchy does do is to reinforce Britain's position in the world as an outmoded Ruritania.Origin actual (1300-1400) Old French actuel, from Late Latin actualis, from Latin actus; → ACT1 