exactly

[ ig-zakt-lee ]

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.

exactly

/ ɪɡˈzæktlɪ /

adverb

1. in an exact manner; accurately or precisely
2. in every respect; just

   it is exactly what I want

3. not exactly ironic.
   not at all; by no means

sentence substitute

1. just so! precisely!

Word History and Origins

Origin of exactly¹

First recorded in 1525–35; exact + -ly

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. not exactly, Informal.
   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.”

Example Sentences

But it’s also sent 43 players to the NHL; that doesn’t exactly make it a hockey factory but it probably qualifies it to be called a hockey workshop.

From Los Angeles Times

Their smugglers knew exactly where they could climb over the fence, they told us.

From BBC

With his index finger firmly pressed against his chiseled jawline, he’s trying to determine exactly how many times he’s shirtless in “The Merry Gentlemen.”

From Los Angeles Times

Then there is the question of exactly what force was used.

From BBC

Lyons told The Nolan Show that "we need to tease out what it is exactly that is required and what is reasonable as well".

From BBC

Related Words

• absolutely
• altogether
• carefully
• completely
• correctly
• definitely
• explicitly
• indeed
• literally
• precisely
• quite
• specifically
• strictly
• totally
• truly