actual
/ˈæktʃʊəl/adjective
1
- existing in fact, typically as contrasted with what was intended, expected, or believed实际存在的（尤与曾经打算、期望或相信的相对）：
the estimate was much less than the actual cost
估计成本比实际成本要少得多
those were his actual words.
那些就是他的原话。
1.1
- used to emphasize the important aspect of something［用于强调某事的重要方面］实际的：
the book could be condensed into half the space, but what of the actual content?
那本书是可以浓缩成原来的一半长短, 但是实际的内容怎么办呢？
2
- existing now; current现存的; 当前的：
using actual income to measure expected income.
以当前收入来衡量预期收入。
短语
in actual fact
- used to emphasize a comment, typically one that modifies or contradicts a previous statement实际上（用于强调一意见, 尤指更改先前或与先前所说相抵触的言论）：
people talk as if he was a monster - in actual fact he was a very kind guy.
人们谈起他来好像他是个怪物——但实际上他是个很好的人。
your actual -
- informal the real, genuine, or important thing specified〈非正式〉真实的, 真正的, 重要的：
is this a drop of your actual feminine intuition?
这真是你的一点女性直觉吗？
词源
Middle English: from Old French actuel 'active， practical'， from late Latin actualis, from actus （see ACT）.