actually

A2 Topic:Describing Qualities

Also spelled actuly

US /ˈæk.t͡ʃ(u.)(ə.)li/ UK /ˈæk.t͡ʃʊ.ə.li/ See IPA manual

Freq #275

Meanings

1

adv
used to say what is really true, especially when it is surprising

It looks difficult, but it's actually quite easy.
2

adv
used to add new information or correct someone politely

Actually, the meeting has been moved to Friday.
3

adv
in fact; in real terms

He is nominally in charge, but his deputy actually runs the company.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adv · used to say what is really... reallyin reality

3 adv · in fact; in real terms really

More certainly definitely forsooth frankly honestly indeed indubitably legitimately literally properly right

Opposites

figuratively metaphorically ostensibly virtually

Word family

Derived forms exactually

Related forms facts genuinetrufax

Etymology

From Middle English actually, actuelly, equivalent to actual + -ly.

actually Middle English

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities

External links

# actually

**Type:** Word
**Level:** A2
**Part of speech:** adv
**IPA (US):** /ˈæk.t͡ʃ(u.)(ə.)li/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈæk.t͡ʃʊ.ə.li/
**Frequency rank:** 275

## Meanings
1. used to say what is really true, especially when it is surprising
2. used to add new information or correct someone politely
3. in fact; in real terms

## Examples
- It looks difficult, but it's actually quite easy.
- Actually, the meeting has been moved to Friday.
- He is nominally in charge, but his deputy actually runs the company.

## Synonyms
- certainly
- definitely
- forsooth
- frankly
- honestly
- indeed
- indubitably
- legitimately
- literally
- properly
- really
- right

## Antonyms
- figuratively
- metaphorically
- ostensibly
- virtually

## Derived Forms
- exactually

## Related Forms
- facts
- genuine
- trufax

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: actually

## Etymology
From Middle English actually, actuelly, equivalent to actual + -ly.

## AI Etymology
Actually is from Middle English actually, actuelly, equivalent to actual plus -ly. The suffix -ly recasts equivalent to actual as an adverb: the lexical idea remains recognizable, but the word now describes manner, degree, or circumstance rather than naming the quality by itself. In use as an adverb, actually denotes used to say what is really true, especially when it is surprising, used to add new information or correct someone politely, and in fact; in real terms. The same word family continues in derived forms such as exactually and related entries such as facts, genuine, and trufax.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

markdown