actual
actual
Pronunciation
IPA Phonetic Spelling of "actual"
IPA: /ˈæk.tʃu.əl/
Syllable Breakdown:
ˈæk: /æk/
/æ/ - Open front unrounded vowel (similar to the "a" in "cat")
/k/ - Voiceless velar stop (similar to the "k" in "kit")
tʃu: /tʃu/
/tʃ/ - Voiceless palatal affricate (similar to the "ch" in "chair")
/u/ - Close front rounded vowel (similar to the "oo" in "boot")
əl: /əl/
/əl/ - Lateral liquid (similar to the "l" in "little")
Word Form Variations
Since "actual" is already an adjective, there are no direct grammatical variations for singular or plural forms.
However, it can be used in different parts of speech or contexts:
Noun: "The actuals" (referring to the real or factual things)
Verb: "To actualize" (meaning to make something real or concrete)
Adverb: "Actually" (meaning in reality or in fact)
Note: These variations are not directly related to the singular or plural forms of nouns or adjectives.
FIND YOURSELF AT SEA.
Register Now.
FIND YOURSELF AT SEA. Register Now.
Definitions, Synonyms, Antonyms
Adjective
Definition: Real, existing in fact, not imagined or hypothetical.
Synonyms: real, true, genuine, authentic, factual, concrete, tangible
Antonyms: imaginary, fictitious, hypothetical, unreal, false, fake
Adverb
Definition: In reality, in fact, truly.
Synonyms: really, truly, indeed, in truth, actually, in reality
Antonyms: apparently, seemingly, supposedly, theoretically
Noun (plural: actuals)
Definition: The real or factual things, as opposed to the theoretical or imagined.
Synonyms: realities, facts, truths, concrete things
Antonyms: fantasies, illusions, fictions
Verb (to actualize)
Definition: To make something real or concrete; to realize or fulfill.
Synonyms: realize, fulfill, materialize, bring to fruition, carry out
Antonyms: imagine, dream, fantasize, idealize
Examples of Use
Books
"The actual events of that day are still shrouded in mystery." (From a historical novel)
"He realized that his dream of becoming an astronaut was actually possible." (From a young adult novel)
Newspapers
"The actual cost of the project is expected to be much higher than initially estimated." (From a financial news article)
"The actual victims of the crime have not yet been identified." (From a crime news article)
Online Publications
"The actual footage of the incident is too graphic to be shown." (From a news website)
"The actual meaning of the song is open to interpretation." (From a music blog)
Entertainment Mediums and Platforms
Movie: "The movie is based on actual events." (From a movie trailer)
TV show: "The character's actual name is revealed in the finale." (From a TV show recap)
Video game: "The actual gameplay is much more challenging than the tutorial suggests." (From a video game review)
General Public Discourse
"I'm not sure that's actually what he meant." (In a casual conversation)
"The actual problem is that we don't have enough resources." (In a public speech)
Note:
For specific citations, please provide the title, author, and publication details of the source you're referencing. For example:
"The actual cost of the project is expected to be much higher than initially estimated." (Smith, J., "Rising Costs for New Project," The New York Times, 2023-10-05)
FIND YOURSELF AT SEA.
Register Now.
FIND YOURSELF AT SEA. Register Now.
10 Famous Quotes Using the term Actual
"The actual is limited, the possible is immense."
— Louis Pasteur"The actual proof of our intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function."
— F. Scott Fitzgerald"There is a world of difference between the truth and facts. Facts can obscure the truth."
— Maya Angelou (often interpreted in the context of actual truth versus perceived reality)"The only way to find the limits of the possible is by going beyond them into the impossible."
— Arthur C. Clarke"What we wish, we readily believe, and what we ourselves think, we imagine others think also."
— Julius Caesar"Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment."
— Buddha"It is not our abilities that show what we truly are. It is our choices."
— J.K. Rowling"We live in a world of illusion. The great task in life is to find reality."
— Iris Murdoch"The great aim of education is not knowledge but action."
— Herbert Spencer"The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge."
— Stephen Hawking
Etymology
The word "actual" comes from the Latin word "actus," which means "action" or "doing." This is because something that is "actual" is something that exists in reality and is not just an idea or a possibility.
The word "actual" first appeared in English in the late 14th century. At that time, it meant "existing in fact" or "real." Over time, the word has taken on slightly different meanings, but the core idea of something being real or existing in reality has remained the same.
"cold" has been used in different languages for thousands of years!
Over time, the word "cold" has evolved a bit in meaning and pronunciation, but it has always referred to the sensation of being cool or having a low temperature.
FIND YOURSELF AT SEA.
Register Now.
FIND YOURSELF AT SEA. Register Now.
Phrases + Idioms Containing the term Actual
Phrases:
In actuality: Meaning "in reality" or "in fact"
Example: "In actuality, he wasn't as angry as he seemed."
Actual size: Meaning "the real size"
Example: "The model is actual size."
Actual footage: Meaning "real footage"
Example: "The news report showed actual footage of the accident."
Idioms:
For real: Meaning "seriously" or "actually"
Example: "Are you for real? That's crazy!"
The real deal: Meaning "the genuine article" or "the authentic thing"
Example: "This is the real deal. It's a Picasso."
While these idioms don't directly use the word "actual," they convey similar meanings and can be used in similar contexts.
Posts Related to Actual
Source Information
Definition of actual from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
