exactly

A2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ɪɡˈzæk(t).li/ See IPA manual

Freq #376

Meanings

1

adv
In a way that is completely correct or precise.

I was doing exactly what they told me to do.
2

adv
Used to add emphasis to a statement.

He chose that color exactly to make a point.
3

intj
Used to show that you completely agree with what someone has said.

So you're saying we have only three days left? — Yes, exactly!

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adv · in a way that is completely... just precisely accurately

More correctlydead-nutsdefinitely directly even exact fully incisively jump perfectly plump

Opposites

approximatelyimpreciselyinaccurately incorrectlyinexactly

Word family

Derived forms eggsactlyexacaticallyexacticallyexactuallyperxactlyperzacklyperzactlyprexactlyprezacklyprezactly

Appears in

Proverbs (1)

See all

Free advice is worth exactly what you pay for it

Etymology

From exact + -ly.

Topics

Describing Qualities

External links

# exactly

**Type:** Word
**Level:** A2
**Part of speech:** adv, intj
**IPA (US):** /ɪɡˈzæk(t).li/
**Frequency rank:** 376

## Meanings
1. In a way that is completely correct or precise.
2. Used to add emphasis to a statement.
3. Used to show that you completely agree with what someone has said.

## Examples
- I was doing exactly what they told me to do.
- He chose that color exactly to make a point.
- So you're saying we have only three days left? — Yes, exactly!

## Synonyms
- correctly
- dead-nuts
- definitely
- directly
- even
- exact
- fully
- incisively
- jump
- just
- perfectly
- plump

## Antonyms
- approximately
- imprecisely
- inaccurately
- incorrectly
- inexactly

## Derived Forms
- eggsactly
- exacatically
- exactically
- exactually
- perxactly
- perzackly
- perzactly
- prexactly
- prezackly
- prezactly

## Etymology
From exact + -ly.

## AI Etymology
Exactly is formed from exact + -ly. In current use, the main senses are “In a way that is completely correct or precise” and “Used to add emphasis to a statement”.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

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