actual

actualadjective

1. real, existing in fact rather than being imagined, expected, or claimed

   attributive only [attrib] not gradable [not gradable]

   • The actual cost was much higher than we expected.
   • What's the actual reason you're upset?
   • There's a difference between the plan and the actual result.
   • Nobody knows the actual number of people affected.

   Collocations

   adjective + noun actual cost, actual number, actual result, actual reason

   phrase in actual fact

   Synonyms real

   Antonyms imaginary

   For translators (sense 1)

   False friends Actual means real or true, not current or present. Many languages have a similar-looking word that means current; for that meaning, English uses current or present, not actual.