exactly
Americanadverb
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in an exact manner; precisely; accurately.
-
in every respect; just.
He will do exactly what he wants.
-
quite so; that's right.
idioms
adverb
-
in an exact manner; accurately or precisely
-
in every respect; just
it is exactly what I want
-
ironic not at all; by no means
Etymology
Origin of exactly
Explanation
Something exactly right is precisely, totally, completely right. This is a word with no fuzziness or wiggle room. Isn't it nice when you know exactly the right word for something? Well, exactly is a word for when you're talking about things that fit perfectly or are unquestionably correct. Ten plus ten is exactly twenty. There are exactly fifty states. An astronomer could tell you exactly how far away the moon is. Exactly is the opposite of approximately or roughly. If you don't know for sure what you're talking about, don't use the word exactly.
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.
Sterling, who had been visiting his brother in Dallas, knew exactly what he had to do.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 27, 2026
If Dai is correct, BioNTech’s cancer pipeline could be exactly what the drugmaker needs to turn the page and finally jump-start its stock.
From Barron's • May 27, 2026
Regulated utilities offer exactly that, along with transmission access, established regulatory relationships and the rights of way that new entrants cannot easily replicate.
From MarketWatch • May 27, 2026
“I said, ‘Follow the law exactly as it is written and announced in the executive order, and we’ll stand by you.
From Los Angeles Times • May 27, 2026
There hadn’t exactly been much to laugh about in our lives of late.
From "Code Name Kingfisher" by Liz Kessler
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.
