actuality

/ˌæktʃuˈæləti/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌæktʃuˈæləti/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌak-chə-ˈwa-lə-tē ˌak-shə-/ (ame, mw)

actuality — 名詞

  • actualitysingular
  • actualitiesplural

1. a fact that something really exists or has happened, especially when this is dif

1.名詞B2
釋義

事實；現實

確實存在或發生的事

a fact that something really exists or has happened, especially when this is different from what people imagine, wish, or believe — for example, the actuality of climate change affecting coastal towns, or the harsh actualities of life during a war.

例句

Theo struggled to accept the actuality of losing his childhood home in the fire.

Theo 難以接受自己的老家被大火燒掉這個事實。

the actuality of + gerund phrase

Sofia's documentary showed the harsh actualities of life in the refugee camp.

Sofia 的紀錄片呈現了難民營中生活的殘酷現實。

actualities (plural) = concrete facts of a hard situation

同義詞
  • reality

    more common and less formal; the standard word for everyday situations

  • fact

    simpler and more direct; refers to a single verifiable piece of information

  • truth

    broader in meaning; can refer to honesty, facts, or the real nature of something

反義詞
  • fantasy

    something imagined rather than real

  • fiction

    something invented or made up, not based on fact

文法句型

the actuality of [something]

[possessive] actualities (plural)

用法筆記

Often used in the plural form actualities to refer to the real facts or conditions of a particular situation, especially difficult ones.

常見錯誤

❌The actuality of the event surprised everyone.
✅The reality of the event surprised everyone.
💡'actuality' is more formal and less common than 'reality' in everyday speech.
❌He told me the actuality.
✅He told me the truth.
💡'actuality' is not used as a direct synonym for 'truth' in casual conversation.

2. used to describe what is really true in a situation, especially when this is dif

2.名詞B2
釋義

實際上；其實

用來指出與表面看法不同的真相

used to describe what is really true in a situation, especially when this is different from outward appearances, public claims, or common assumptions — for example, a product that seems cheap but in actuality costs more over time.

例句

The plan looked simple on paper, but in actuality it was extremely complex.

這個計劃在紙上看起來很簡單，但實際上非常複雜。

in actuality contrasting with appearance

Diego thought the exam would be easy, but in actuality it was quite difficult.

Diego 以為考試很簡單，但實際上相當困難。

同義詞
  • actually

    less formal and far more common in everyday speech

  • in reality

    similar formality; slightly more common than 'in actuality'

  • in fact

    neutral register; used both in writing and conversation

反義詞
  • apparently

    refers to how something seems, not how it actually is

  • supposedly

    based on what people believe or claim, not on fact

文法句型

in actuality (as a sentence adverb or adverbial phrase)

用法筆記

This sense only appears in the fixed phrase 'in actuality'. It functions like a sentence adverb, similar to 'in fact' or 'actually', but is more formal. Cannot be used as 'in the actuality' or 'in this actuality'.

常見錯誤

❌In actuality, I don't know her.
✅Actually, I don't know her.
💡'Actually' is the standard conversational word; 'in actuality' is too formal for everyday speech.
❌The actuality, he never came.
✅In actuality, he never came.
💡The phrase requires the preposition 'in'.

3. the condition of being a real, physical or concrete thing, rather than just a po

3.名詞C1
釋義

現實性；實在

哲學中指實際存在的狀態

the condition of being a real, physical or concrete thing, rather than just a possibility, an idea, or an abstract concept — for example, the actuality of a tree you can touch compared with the idea of a tree that you only imagine.

例句

Ananya's philosophy paper discussed the nature of actuality versus possibility.

Ananya 的哲學論文探討了現實性與可能性的本質。

actuality versus possibility (philosophical contrast)

For Aristotle, a seed holds potential, but only the full-grown tree is actuality.

對亞里斯多德而言，種子具有潛能，但只有長成的樹才是現實。

同義詞
  • reality

    broader and less technical; the everyday word for the state of things as they exist

  • existence

    focuses on the fact of being, without the philosophical contrast with potentiality

  • being

    used in ontology; similar to actuality but even more abstract

反義詞
  • potentiality

    the capacity or possibility of becoming something, rather than actually being it

  • possibility

    something that may or may not happen or exist

文法句型

actuality versus possibility

potentiality and actuality

用法筆記

Primarily a technical term in philosophy, where it is contrasted with potentiality or possibility. Not used in everyday conversation. Distinguish from sense 1 (ACTUAL FACT), which refers to a concrete fact rather than an abstract philosophical state.

常見錯誤

❌The actuality of the chair is that it is brown.
✅The reality is that the chair is brown.
💡The philosophical sense does not apply to simple physical descriptions.
❌This plant has reached actuality.
✅This plant has reached full growth.
💡'Actuality' in the philosophical sense is not used for biological development outside academic writing.