A more thorough explanation:

Definition:

Actual, adj. - Existing in reality; not imagined or supposed.

Examples:

• The actual cost of the car was higher than the advertised price.
• She finally met her actual hero in person.
• The actual number of attendees was much lower than expected.

Explanation: The term "actual" refers to something that is real and exists in reality. The examples provided illustrate this definition by showing situations where something was not imagined or supposed, but rather existed in fact. For instance, the first example shows that the cost of the car was not just a hypothetical or advertised price, but the actual cost that had to be paid. Similarly, the second example shows that the hero was not just a fictional character, but a real person that the individual met in person. Finally, the third example shows that the number of attendees was not just an estimate or prediction, but the actual number of people who showed up.