actually
Americanadverb
adverb
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as an actual fact; really
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( as sentence modifier )
actually, I haven't seen him
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at present
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informal a parenthetic filler used to add slight emphasis
I don't know, actually
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. )
Explanation
You might think your mom would be thrilled to open a birthday present and find a live rabbit, but actually that's the last thing she's hoping for. Actually is an adverb that means "in reality." Actually can be used two ways: first, as an adverb meaning "really." You might say, "It's hard to know which of these cookies will taste best without actually sampling them all." The other way to use the word actually is to imply that your expectations have been proven wrong, that the opposite of what you thought is true. You could say, "The hotel room looked spotless, but actually it turned out to have bedbugs."
Vocabulary lists containing actually
List 3
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Florida's B.E.S.T. Common Suffixes: -ly
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"Saying Yes" and "A Lion Hunt"
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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.
The number of postings in the retail sector, which is typically a hotspot for teen hiring, has actually perked up in recent weeks.
From Barron's • May 25, 2026
Lines on the map have shifted dramatically over the past few months, raising questions about what the government actually plans to build.
From Salon • May 25, 2026
"Long term, it's actually scared away investors, he said. "And all the oppression also affected how investors see Saudi Arabia as a government, as a country, that lacks what investors want, which is predictability.
From BBC • May 25, 2026
It’s tough to price in the impact from upcoming IPOs on the market ahead of time, because they tend to “suck up the liquidity” at the time they actually happen, according to Elliott.
From MarketWatch • May 24, 2026
I know most people would think it’s nuts that I like helping my dad with work like this, but it’s actually fun.
From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam
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.
