actually

American  

[ak-choo-uh-lee] / ˈæk tʃu ə li /

adverb

1. as an actual or existing fact; really.

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actually British  

/ 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

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Usage

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).

Etymology

Origin of actually

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

Example Sentences

“I actually got a message from Paul, which is pretty cool,” Clooney says, smiling.

From Los Angeles Times

I actually had a fair and balanced opinion about the fact that James is, excuse the semi-pun, a titan.

From Los Angeles Times

In the era of the endless scroll, how closely are you actually looking at what you see?

From BBC

"Heart disease is often seen as a male condition but, actually, it's one of the biggest killers of women in the UK," she said.

From BBC

But such a move might not actually make a difference, experts say.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

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