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 advanced chip sanctions put in place by the Biden administration were meant to prevent exactly this scenario. —Jackie Snow, Quartz, 3 Feb. 2025

That hit was shared equally by all 12 schools and impacted both the 2023 and 2024 fiscal year budgets, although it is not known exactly how much was withheld each year. —Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 3 Feb. 2025

In 2022, Toye’s startup, Scarlet Therapeutics, was founded to do exactly that. —Nicola Twilley, The New Yorker, 3 Feb. 2025

The club certainly appreciate the need for exactly that type of player and, perhaps, they might be forced into paying a few million more euros for one after Sunday’s 5-1 Premier League defeat at Arsenal. —Sam Lee, The Athletic, 3 Feb. 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