not exactly
idiom
informal
1
—used in speech as a mild way of saying "no" especially to indicate that what someone has said is not completely correct or true
"He's your boss, isn't he?" "Not exactly."
"Did everything go the way you planned it?" "Not exactly."
2
—used as a humorous or ironic way to say "not"
He's not exactly the smartest guy I've ever met.
Examples of not exactly in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
And New York City, with its abundance of stimulation, is not exactly the ideal spot to chase a moment of zen.
—
Juliet Izon, Travel + Leisure, 21 May 2024
Though all this is precise and intelligent, the overall effect is weirdly narrow and not exactly news.
—Jesse Green, New York Times, 14 May 2024
Vele’s not exactly the typical college prospect coming out.
—Parker Gabriel, The Denver Post, 13 May 2024
Upstairs also has some interesting features, including a throne not exactly fit for a king ― the toilet sits in the middle of the master bathroom up against a thin wall in front of the shower.
—Claire Reid, Journal Sentinel, 10 May 2024
So, The Fall Guy, though not exactly the same, had a very small group of us pushing the creative.
—Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 May 2024
The Southland is not exactly a hotbed for college baseball — Cal State Fullerton and Long Beach State aside — but the Trojans have not averaged even 1,000 fans for years.
—Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2024
But that's not exactly the case in Newaygo County, north of Grand Rapids, where main streets and outdoor recreation drive an economy and much of the political discourse in a deeply red area.
—Arpan Lobo, Detroit Free Press, 10 May 2024
First off, because her determination and creative output are not exactly consistent with nepo babyhood.
—Jessica Cruel, Allure, 2 May 2024
Juliet Izon, Travel + Leisure, 21 May 2024
Though all this is precise and intelligent, the overall effect is weirdly narrow and not exactly news.
—Jesse Green, New York Times, 14 May 2024
Vele’s not exactly the typical college prospect coming out.
—Parker Gabriel, The Denver Post, 13 May 2024
Upstairs also has some interesting features, including a throne not exactly fit for a king ― the toilet sits in the middle of the master bathroom up against a thin wall in front of the shower.
—Claire Reid, Journal Sentinel, 10 May 2024
So, The Fall Guy, though not exactly the same, had a very small group of us pushing the creative.
—Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 May 2024
The Southland is not exactly a hotbed for college baseball — Cal State Fullerton and Long Beach State aside — but the Trojans have not averaged even 1,000 fans for years.
—Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2024
But that's not exactly the case in Newaygo County, north of Grand Rapids, where main streets and outdoor recreation drive an economy and much of the political discourse in a deeply red area.
—Arpan Lobo, Detroit Free Press, 10 May 2024
First off, because her determination and creative output are not exactly consistent with nepo babyhood.
—Jessica Cruel, Allure, 2 May 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'not exactly.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near not exactly
Cite this Entry
“Not exactly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/not%20exactly. Accessed 1 Jun. 2024.
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