exact
Americanadjective
-
strictly accurate or correct.
an exact likeness; an exact description.
- Antonyms:
- imprecise
-
precise, as opposed to approximate.
the exact sum; the exact date.
- Antonyms:
- imprecise
-
admitting of no deviation, as laws or discipline; strict or rigorous.
-
capable of the greatest precision.
exact instruments.
-
characterized by or using strict accuracy.
an exact thinker.
- Synonyms:
- scrupulous, demanding, punctilious, careful, methodical
-
Mathematics. (of a differential equation) noting that the collection of all terms, equated to zero, is an exact differential.
verb (used with object)
-
exacts,
present (3rd person singular)
-
exacted,
past participle, past
-
exacting
present participle
-
to call for, demand, or require.
to exact respect from one's children.
-
to force or compel the payment, yielding, or performance of.
to exact money; to exact tribute from a conquered people.
- Synonyms:
- wring
adjective
-
correct in every detail; strictly accurate
an exact copy
-
precise, as opposed to approximate; neither more nor less
the exact sum
-
(prenominal) specific; particular
this exact spot
-
operating with very great precision
exact instruments
-
allowing no deviation from a standard; rigorous; strict
an exact mind
-
based mainly on measurement and the formulation of laws, as opposed to description and classification
physics is an exact science
verb
-
to force or compel (payment or performance); extort
to exact tribute
-
to demand as a right; insist upon
to exact respect from one's employees
-
to call for or require
this work exacts careful effort
Synonym Usage
See extract.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
exacternoun
-
exactnessnoun
-
exactornoun
-
exactableadjective
-
nonexactableadjective
-
preexactadjective
-
quasi-exactadjective
-
unexactedadjective
-
quasi-exactlyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
exactsimple
-
exactssimple
-
have exactedperfect
-
has exactedperfect
-
am exactingprogressive
-
are exactingprogressive
-
is exactingprogressive
-
have been exactingperfect progressive
-
has been exactingperfect progressive
Past
-
exactedsimple
-
had exactedperfect
-
was exactingprogressive
-
were exactingprogressive
-
had been exactingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of exact
First recorded in 1525–45; late Middle English exacten (verb), from Latin exāctus (past participle of exigere “drive out, thrust out”), equivalent to ex- ex- 1 + ag(ere) “to drive” + -tus past participle suffix
Explanation
If something's exact, it's precise and completely accurate — as opposed to a guess, an estimate, or an approximation. Exact also has the meaning of taking something from someone, often money, and generally only given up with reluctance under the threat of force. The Mob might exact a shakedown from unfortunate businessmen, for example. The word comes from the Latin exactus "exact or accurate," a form of the verb exigere — meaning "to force out or demand," like the Mob demanding its money.
Vocabulary lists containing exact
The Merchant of Venice
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Common Core Grade 5, List 7
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"Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" by Lewis Carroll, Chapters 1–3
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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.
See Examples For:
Paramount provided Salazar with videos and then told Facebook what videos he watched without his consent—the exact kind of injury contemplated by the statute.
From Slate ● Oct. 17, 2026
I’m not declaring that 5.36% was the exact top in the 10-year yield.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 16, 2026
Regardless of its exact path, large ocean swells generated by the hurricane were expected to create hazardous conditions along portions of Mexico's southwestern and west-central coastlines in the following days.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 16, 2026
Including City's 3-0 victory at Anfield, he got four correct results with no exact scores from the 10 games in week six, giving him 40 points.
From BBC ● Oct. 15, 2026
Those were her exact words, and it was the exact words of the curse upon the Ashtons that the fortune.teller had to know in order to undo it—or attempt to, at least.
From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood
That all-important cold chain exacts a cost from growers and distributors as well.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 18, 2026
It’s never been more challenging and expensive to live in California, a place of great bounty that often exacts in dollars and stress what it offers in opportunity and wondrous beauty.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 4, 2026
The problem with this conception is the opportunity cost it exacts on the American reading public.
From Salon ● Dec. 18, 2025
The Magic City exacts a premium for the privilege.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 6, 2025
Therefore, enviously, gloatingly, he exacts vengeance upon us for the unalterable deficiencies in his own life.
From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover
But Belafonte’s celebrity exacted a toll, as he documented in a late-life autobiography that Mr. Jelly-Schapiro draws on heavily.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026
Well, there are numerous contemporaneous examples of reparation payments exacted by European states, so you tell me.
From Salon ● Jul. 4, 2026
It is unclear if payments are being exacted under the new system.
From MarketWatch ● May 19, 2026
Investor morale is now at its lowest point since December 2022, in the aftermath of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine as surging energy costs exacted a heavy toll on German manufacturers.
From Barron's ● Apr. 21, 2026
Walt and Billie didn't try to prevent Chris from going, although they persuaded him to take Walt’s Texaco credit card for emer-gencies and exacted a promise from their son to call home every three days.
From "Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer
Cefas Endeavour was a technically challenging ship, with exacting specifications for noise and vibration so that it would not disturb fish during survey work.
From BBC ● Sep. 28, 2026
“Interiors by Stewart-Gulrajani merge architecture and artistry with exacting precision. Vaulted open-beam ceilings, vast picture windows, and refined finishes infuse each room with air, light, and composure,” the description added.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 8, 2026
The good news is, per Gifford, that there are less generalized models out there that are tailored to much more exacting needs.
From Slate ● Aug. 21, 2026
Anderson’s use of far-flung needle drops and lovely original score work is, like everything in his film universe, planned down to exacting detail.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 11, 2026
Nothing is talked about here to-day except the strange coincidence; the officials of the Board of Trade have been most exacting in seeing that every compliance has been made with existing regulations.
From "Dracula" by Bram Stoker
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
