I. ˈakchə(wə)l, -ksh- adjective
Etymology: Middle English, active, existing, from Middle French actuel, from Late Latin actualis active, practical, from Latin actus act + -alis -al — more at act
1. obsolete : involving or relating to acts or deeds : active
her walking and other actual performances — Shakespeare
2.
a. : existing in act
our actual intentions
: existent — contrasted with potential and possible
b. : existing in fact or reality : really acted or acting or carried out — contrasted with ideal and hypothetical
in actual life
the actual conditions
— distinguished from apparent and nominal
the actual cost of goods
3. : not spurious : real , genuine
an actual blizzard
actual falsehood
hard-pressed but not in actual poverty
4. : in existence or taking place at the time : present , current
caught in the actual commission of the crime
5. physics : kinetic ; also : motive , sensible — used of energy
Synonyms: see real
II. noun
( -s )
1. : something that is actual or exists in fact : reality
2. : something actually received or at hand (as a cash receipt or a market commodity) as distinct from estimated or expected
trading in both actuals and futures in grain