Actually Definition & Meaning

American

British

Usage

Etymology

Examples

Related Words

Synonyms actually American [ak-choo-uh-lee] / ˈæk tʃu ə li /

adverb

1. as an actual or existing fact; really.

actually British / 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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Usage

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).

Etymology

Origin of actually

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

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 wasn’t easy to get ready for this, with no motivation for a season, but I actually am in a pretty good spot with my arm.

From Los Angeles Times

“But to actually create real peace, you have to do these kind of actions just like happened.”

From The Wall Street Journal

The insurers consider themselves justified in cancelling war risk policies: they covered a contingency, which no longer exists now that war has actually broken out.

From Barron's

So there’s this bombastic side to his personality, but then the treat of working with him is you get to see this very sweet, actually quite vulnerable, very generous and kind side.

From The Wall Street Journal

I got ad opportunities, sponsors, and a tip jar that people actually used.

From Literature

Related Words

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

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.