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Synonyms

exactly

American  
[ig-zakt-lee] / ɪgˈzækt li /

adverb

  1. in an exact manner; precisely; accurately.

  2. in every respect; just.

    He will do exactly what he wants.

  3. quite so; that's right.

idioms

  1. not exactly,

    1. in no way; not at all.

      It’s not exactly funny, is it?

    2. not completely so, but nearly so.

      The burgers are not exactly raw, but they need more cooking.

    3. (as an ironic response) no.

      “Is that the jacket you ordered?” “Not exactly.”
exactly British  
/ ɪɡˈzæktlɪ /

adverb

  1. in an exact manner; accurately or precisely

  2. in every respect; just

    it is exactly what I want

  3. ironic not at all; by no means

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

  1. just so! precisely!

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of exactly

First recorded in 1525–35; exact + -ly

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.

Imagine tiny robots made from DNA moving through the bloodstream, delivering drugs exactly where they are needed and targeting threats such as cancer cells or viruses.

From Science Daily

Rachel Reeves said it was "too early" to say exactly who would get help but hinted any support would not arrive until the autumn.

From BBC

"The ideal scenario is that you know exactly where it is," Campbell said.

From BBC

“I think he did exactly the right thing.”

From Barron's

“And that is exactly the kind of expression in which Ms. Chiles seeks to engage.”

From The Wall Street Journal

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.