exactly
Americanadverb
-
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.
It was not clear exactly how Ohtani hurt his knee Thursday.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 12, 2026
“They know exactly how to get something out of the cheapest models possible. When they get into trouble, they temporarily jump up to a higher price point with a fancier model.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 12, 2026
"I can understand how they feel, because that is exactly how I feel with this situation," said Key.
From BBC • Jun. 11, 2026
She’s showing us exactly how the majority manipulates the text until it gets where it wants to go.
From Slate • Jun. 11, 2026
The ice-cold eyes appraised me exactly as they had the bed.
From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom
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.
