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.

"Meet the people and see what actually happened."

From BBC

This gap has left researchers wondering what kinds of chemical information these helpful bacteria are actually detecting in their environment.

From Science Daily

It’s actually three times more than the lowest halftime score in the big game’s history, which came in Super Bowl IX following the 1974 season.

From Los Angeles Times

He thinks such an approach can alienate those with families, as well as experienced older workers who "can actually work far less and achieve much more because they know what they're doing".

From BBC

“I actually have some thoughts,” she said when asked by a reporter how she felt about representing the U.S. at a time when the country is riven by deep political divides.

From Los Angeles Times

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.