actually

[ ak-choo-uh-lee ]

adverb

1. as an actual or existing fact; really.

actually

/ ˈæktʃʊəlɪ /

adverb

1. 1. as an actual fact; really
   2. ( as sentence modifier )

      actually, I haven't seen him

2. at present
3. informal.
   a parenthetic filler used to add slight emphasis

   I don't know, actually

Word History and Origins

Origin of actually¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English; actual ( def ), + -ly ( def )

Example Sentences

Some newly identified sites actually occur in the coding sequence of the gene that becomes an mRNA.

From Science Daily

This sounds like sugar's keeping us fed, but added sugars are actually empty calories – they are bereft of any nutrients like vitamins or fibers.

From Salon

Still, there has been little scientific understanding of how the brain consciously controls our breathing and whether this actually has a direct effect on our anxiety and emotional state.

From Science Daily

"Some of the metrics we use now are not really sufficient whereas the '3-30-300' metric really demands that nature is brought to the areas that people actually live and work in," Weisser said.

From Science Daily

"As we recently published in the journal PNAS, we can actually trace the male lineage of horses using the Y chromosome, which was something we could not do before," Cothran said.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• absolutely
• for real
• genuinely
• in fact
• indeed
• literally
• really
• truly
• verily

How Do You Spell Actually?

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).