exactly

adverb

ex·​act·​ly ig-ˈzak-(t)lē 

1

a

: in a manner or measure or to a degree or number that strictly conforms to a fact or condition

it's exactly 3 o'clock

these two pieces are exactly the same size

b

: in every respect : altogether, entirely

that was exactly the wrong thing to do

not exactly what I had in mind

2

: quite so

—used to express agreement

Synonyms

• due
• full
• just
• precisely
• right
• sharp
• smack-dab
• squarely

Examples of exactly in a Sentence

The levers need to be exactly positioned.

we will meet at exactly six o'clock

Recent Examples on the Web

The research also had other limitations, including a small sample size and limited knowledge about exactly how the different machines prepared and filtered coffee. —Jamie Ducharme, Health, 4 Apr. 2025

What, exactly, did his trade plans liberate the world’s largest economy from? —Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 4 Apr. 2025

Pattern beauty products, like this shampoo, offer exactly what natural-going girls need, says Brittany Gharring, a professional hairstylist and makeup artist. —Alanna Martine Kilkeary, Glamour, 4 Apr. 2025

Morgentaler says there are different ideas about what exactly is too low and what treatment, if any, men should get. —Sharyl Attkisson, Baltimore Sun, 4 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

exact entry 2 + -ly entry 2

First Known Use

1612, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing exactly

• my sentiments exactly
• not exactly

Rhymes for exactly

• abstractly

Kids Definition

exactly

adverb

ex·​act·​ly ig-ˈzak-(t)lē 

1

a

: in an exact manner

do exactly as you're told

b

: so as to match fact or a state

at exactly three o'clock

exactly the same size

c

: in every way : altogether

that was exactly the wrong thing to do

not exactly what I had in mind

2

: quite so : just as you say

—used to express agreement