real time

[ree-uhl, reel] / ˈri əl, ril /

NOUN

actual time for action or event

Synonyms

WEAK

actual time problem-solving time

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Contrarians typically don’t hazard a guess as to when those preconditions will be met, preferring instead to let the markets tell the story in real time.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 9, 2026

Communities dedicated to open-source intelligence piece together fragments of information in real time.

From Salon • Apr. 8, 2026

Composed as Day’s star rose in real time, the song was a receptacle for all of her conflicting feelings about her newfound attention.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

An estimate will often shift as a conflict evolves in real time, explained Prof Eric Min, from the University of California, Los Angeles, who studies conflict resolution and diplomacy.

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

ANGELA: I’m relaying it real time to my cloud account anyway!

From "Burning Blue" by Paul Griffin