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

That’s exactly where Steven Bartlett found himself after stepping away from his company. —Lien De Pau, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025

Gauging exactly what such a switch might mean for Birmingham — or even Wrexham, should Parkinson steer his team to a third successive promotion come May — isn’t easy due to how, by their very nature, club accounts are way out of date by the time published at Companies House. —Richard Sutcliffe, The Athletic, 22 Jan. 2025

For example, one hurricane can be moving slowly westward in the Gulf, while at exactly the same time another hurricane can be moving rapidly northward along the Atlantic coast. —Doyle Rice, USA TODAY, 22 Jan. 2025

Minutes later, a meteorite pummeled the walkway — exactly where Velaidum had been standing — and a Ring doorbell camera captured the entire incident on video. —Jackie Wattles, CNN, 22 Jan. 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

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