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.

Now those concerns are playing out in real time.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 3, 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

Under the new rules, results from polling stations are to be transmitted electronically in real time.

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026

Powell, speaking to students at Harvard University, laid out the textbook case for patience: Energy disruptions tend to be short-lived, and monetary policy works too slowly to counteract them in real time.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026

The thought of anything worse, the thought of doing real time in a real prison, I couldn’t even imagine.

From "Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood" by Trevor Noah