actual

Word family

ac·tu·al /ˈæktʃuəl/ S1 W2 adjectiveadj [only before noun]

1 REAL/NOT IMAGINARYused to emphasize that something is real or exact 实际的，真实的

I’m not joking. Those were his actual words.

我没开玩笑，那都是他的原话。

I know Germany won, but I can’t tell you the actual score.

我知道德国队胜了，但我不知道确切的比分。

Interest is only charged on the actual amount borrowed.

利息只按实际借款额收取。

In actual fact (=really), there is little evidence to support the allegations.

事实上，这些指控几乎没有证据支持。

Do not use actual to mean ‘at the present time’. Use current or present: the current (NOT actual) economic policy

表示“现在”的意思不要用 actual. 而要用 current 或 present: the current (NOT actual) economic policy 当前的经济政策

2 the actual something MAINused to introduce the most important part of an event or activity 真正的某事物，某事物本身

The programme starts at 8.00 but the actual film doesn’t start until 8.30.

节目8点开始，但电影本身要到8点半才放映。

Examples from the Corpus

the actual something• The cost is set to go up, but the actual amount is unknown.

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

ac·tu·al adjectiveadj

Chinese

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Corpus