actually

[ak-choo-uh-lee]

adverb

1. as an actual or existing fact; really.

actually

/ ˈæktʃʊəlɪ /

adverb

1. 1. as an actual fact; really

   2. ( as sentence modifier )

      actually, I haven't seen him

2. at present

3. informal,  a parenthetic filler used to add slight emphasis

   I don't know, actually

Word History and Origins

Origin of actually¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English; actual ( def. ), + -ly ( def. )

Example Sentences

“Black Friday this year is actually one of the most important Black Fridays” since the pandemic and probably even further back, said Marshal Cohen, chief retail adviser at Circana.

Read more on MarketWatch

"If the lead car is prepared to sacrifice their rights to the first call to help his team-mate, who's actually his number one competitor in the championship, that's great teamwork," Brown says.

Read more on BBC

However, how much money it actually raises will depend on how many people buy electric cars over the next five years, with the report adding the yield "is uncertain".

Read more on BBC

“Our goal is to be actually paranoid about deployment because obviously, even one accident will be front-page headline news worldwide,” Musk said on the call.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“AI is replacing some of the entry level jobs in tech. And yes, AI is actually replacing some jobs in Hollywood,” said economist Chris Thornberg, founding partner at Beacon Economics in Los Angeles.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• absolutely 
• for real 
• genuinely 
• in fact 
• indeed 
• literally 
• really 
• truly 
• verily 

When To Use

Spelling tips for actually

The word actually is hard to spell because it uses a double l. How to spell actually: The word actually is often used for emphasis. Keep in mind that to really make your point, you need Lots of Ls (a double l).