Actual time—the time to be compared with the standard or expected time.
- The actual time of its [Indian summer] occurrence and the character of the weather appear to vary for different regions.
Real time—
1. the time during which an event occurs.
- The date displayed by monitors is from the previous day, making it almost impossible to know the real time of air pollution.
2. said of the processing of data which occurs as it is generated.
- A higher speed in computers means that they can more easily engage in activities in what we call “real time.”
Note: Neither expression is equivalent in meaning to the phrase true time—the time according to the position of the sun.
- True (nonrelative) time can only be measured by using a constant, such as the objective speed of light.