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)
-
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
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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:
It was that exact spirit of inquiry, within an article about the history of the doo-wop revival, that caught the attention of another doo-wop aficionado from South Jersey.
From Salon ● Jul. 29, 2026
A De Havilland spokesperson wouldn't be drawn on the exact month of deliveries, saying only that they were "in line with forecasts."
From Barron's ● Jul. 28, 2026
The exact number of people missing is still unclear, but Japan's public broadcaster NHK reports police saying that contact has been lost with 20 to 30 employees.
From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026
She said, “If it should be required to resort to the Constitution, I’m going to direct you to the exact portion.”
From Slate ● Jul. 27, 2026
It was the exact same one the woman three rows up and two over was wearing.
From "Glitch" by Laura Martin
That all-important cold chain exacts a cost from growers and distributors as well.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 18, 2026
Skating as much as Hughes does exacts a brutal toll, which is why it often looks like the Minnesota defenseman has an on/off switch.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 3, 2026
She’s pursuing her medical education in America, which exacts a more drastic form of loss, but Iranian existence for women is a quagmire of contradictions.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 21, 2025
Amazon’s advantage exacts a personal toll, workers say.
From Salon ● Nov. 26, 2024
And it exacts that toll in about six minutes.
From "The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics" by Daniel James Brown
One result is the great financial sacrifice exacted on family members who do take on caregiving roles, not only while they fill this role but thereafter, as well.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 27, 2026
Well, there are numerous contemporaneous examples of reparation payments exacted by European states, so you tell me.
From Salon ● Jul. 4, 2026
The report defines “forced labor” as “all work or service which is exacted from any person under the menace of any penalty for its nonperformance and for which the worker does not offer himself voluntarily.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 3, 2026
“IBM has effectively exacted change across every major technology computing cycle over the last century,” Woodring explains.
From Barron's ● Dec. 10, 2025
She walked the earth and exacted an oath from each thing that she encountered never to harm Balder the beautiful.
From "Norse Mythology" by Neil Gaiman
Anderson’s score work is planned to exacting detail.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026
His reputation as an exacting director precedes him.
From Salon ● Jul. 19, 2026
The government's "ambitious target" to halve the gap was "right and welcome", she added, but said it had to be "more exacting" about how to achieve it.
From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026
Enphase is still working on its design, but is confident it will be able to meet the tech companies’ exacting standards.
From Barron's ● Jun. 4, 2026
Other girls proudly wrote out their exacting routines of work and study to astound their loving parents.
From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan
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.
