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.
What often surprises them is how modern, vibrant, and international the city actually is.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026
"I put a shirt in the air and it went - it actually surprised me," she said.
From BBC • Apr. 16, 2026
It’s actually pretty cool to be able to compete against somebody that’s going to be considered one of the best in the world for many years to come.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 16, 2026
“It’s about which option delivers the better net value over time, based on realistic assumptions, consistent performance and how the benefits are actually being used.”
From MarketWatch • Apr. 16, 2026
I had no way of knowing whether they were actually ill-fitting or whether this was merely how boots fit; I had never worn anything so heavy and drab on my feet before.
From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse
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.
