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
The simulcast business, like the radio biz, is not exactly robust.
—
Bob Raissman, New York Daily News, 11 Jan. 2025
The Baltimore Orioles have not exactly upgraded their shaky starting rotation this off-season.
—Chuck Murr, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025
German Expressionist films are not exactly popular fodder for the contemporary remake machine.
—Elle Carroll, Vulture, 24 Dec. 2024
The protagonists of more recent musicals like Wonka or Cats did not exactly reflect Chekhovian tensions.
—Peter Bart, Deadline, 19 Dec. 2024
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Bob Raissman, New York Daily News, 11 Jan. 2025
The Baltimore Orioles have not exactly upgraded their shaky starting rotation this off-season.
—Chuck Murr, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025
German Expressionist films are not exactly popular fodder for the contemporary remake machine.
—Elle Carroll, Vulture, 24 Dec. 2024
The protagonists of more recent musicals like Wonka or Cats did not exactly reflect Chekhovian tensions.
—Peter Bart, Deadline, 19 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for not exactly
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 15 Jan. 2025.
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