actuality

What is really true or happens, rather than what seems true or is imagined.

• In actuality, the house was empty.
• The job sounded easy but was difficult in actuality.
• What seemed like a mistake was, in actuality, a clever choice.

Similar words: reality, fact

Opposites: fantasy

Common phrases: in actuality, dream into actuality

The real facts or conditions of a situation, rather than what people imagine.

• The actualities of war shocked him.
• She described the daily actualities of caring for her father.
• Their plan ignored the practical actualities of running a business.

How to use it: the actualities of something (The report describes the actualities of farm life.)

Similar words: realities, facts

Common phrases: the harsh actuality, face the actuality

The state of really existing, rather than only being possible.

• The idea had no physical actuality.
• They debated the actuality of the imagined world.
• The philosopher distinguished possibility from actuality.

Similar words: existence

Opposites: nonexistence

Common phrases: physical actuality, bring into actuality