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
Their opposition was not exactly a profile in courage.
—
Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 3 Apr. 2025
This is not exactly the axis of evil, or the axis of anything except countries that are either dependent on the United States or otherwise easily pushed around.
—Rich Lowry, National Review, 2 Apr. 2025
But beyond lodging, the analyst noted that investors are not exactly pricing in Airbnb’s new products, such as experiences.
—Pia Singh, CNBC, 10 Mar. 2025
Looked at in one way, the corporate office is not exactly a paradigm of usefulness.
—Jeffrey Steele, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for not exactly
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Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 3 Apr. 2025
This is not exactly the axis of evil, or the axis of anything except countries that are either dependent on the United States or otherwise easily pushed around.
—Rich Lowry, National Review, 2 Apr. 2025
But beyond lodging, the analyst noted that investors are not exactly pricing in Airbnb’s new products, such as experiences.
—Pia Singh, CNBC, 10 Mar. 2025
Looked at in one way, the corporate office is not exactly a paradigm of usefulness.
—Jeffrey Steele, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for not exactly
Cite this Entry
“Not exactly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/not%20exactly. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.
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