exactly
Americanadverb
-
in an exact manner; precisely; accurately.
-
in every respect; just.
He will do exactly what he wants.
-
quite so; that's right.
idioms
adverb
-
in an exact manner; accurately or precisely
-
in every respect; just
it is exactly what I want
-
ironic not at all; by no means
Etymology
Origin of exactly
Explanation
Something exactly right is precisely, totally, completely right. This is a word with no fuzziness or wiggle room. Isn't it nice when you know exactly the right word for something? Well, exactly is a word for when you're talking about things that fit perfectly or are unquestionably correct. Ten plus ten is exactly twenty. There are exactly fifty states. An astronomer could tell you exactly how far away the moon is. Exactly is the opposite of approximately or roughly. If you don't know for sure what you're talking about, don't use the word exactly.
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.
He also challenged the technology companies to explain to Canadians exactly how they protect their customers’ data.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 27, 2026
If Dai is correct, BioNTech’s cancer pipeline could be exactly what the drugmaker needs to turn the page and finally jump-start its stock.
From Barron's • May 27, 2026
This is exactly the kind of hype that drives bubbles and persuades ordinary members of the public to take on more risk than they should.
From MarketWatch • May 27, 2026
“The guy who sounded exactly like me or very close to me, was the guy who ended up dubbing ‘Wishbone’ in Korean.
From Los Angeles Times • May 27, 2026
It was hard to get straight in my mind exactly what she might look like.
From "Firegirl" by Tony Abbott
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
