actually
Americanadverb
adverb
-
-
as an actual fact; really
-
( as sentence modifier )
actually, I haven't seen him
-
-
at present
-
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. )
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.
“And it was really watching Gilda when I realized, ‘cause I’d always liked acting in school, that it was actually a local possibility.
From Los Angeles Times
When Harry Styles announced the dates for his 2026 "world tour", fans were quick to notice it actually only includes performances in seven cities.
From BBC
“Many Chinese netizens realized: ‘The life we take for granted is actually a luxury in the eyes of others.’”
“Illinois was a tight game and I actually thought there was some great value in that we were challenged,” Close said after practice Friday at Mo Ostin Basketball Center.
From Los Angeles Times
They might just be better off waiting for the stocks to actually begin trading and see how they perform—instead of taking a big leap into the unknown.
From Barron's
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.
