exactly
exactly
Pronunciation
exactly /ɪɡˈzæktli/
ɪɡ: as in "igloo" (initial "i" sound, "g" sound)
ˈzæk: as in "sack" (initial "z" sound, short "a" sound, "k" sound)
tli: as in "lightly" (initial "t" sound, "l" sound, short "ee" sound)
Word Form Variations
"Exactly" is an adverb. Adverbs generally do not have variations for singular/plural or different tenses like verbs. Its primary variation is its base adjective form and related noun:
Adjective: exact
Noun: exactness
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Adverb
Definition 1: In a precise and accurate manner; without any deviation or error.
Synonyms: precisely, accurately, precisely, correctly, strictly
Antonyms: approximately, roughly, vaguely, imprecisely
Definition 2: Used to express complete agreement or confirmation with a statement or idea.
Synonyms: precisely, indeed, absolutely, precisely, quite
Antonyms: hardly, scarcely, incorrectly, wrongly
Definition 3: Indicating the minimum or maximum extent, often to emphasize a specific quantity or time.
Synonyms: precisely, sharply, on the dot, just
Antonyms: about, almost, nearly, roughly
Examples of Use
Books: "The character described the scene exactly as it had appeared to him, down to the smallest detail of the flickering candlelight." (From a review of "The Silent Patient" by Alex Michaelides, often praising its descriptive quality, e.g., BookPage, February 2019)
Newspapers: "When asked about the new policy, the minister stated, 'That's exactly what we intend to achieve with this legislation: greater equity for all citizens.'" (The Guardian, March 2024)
Online Publications: "Our new AI model can predict market trends with an astonishing 98% accuracy, identifying shifts exactly when they occur." (TechCrunch, January 2025)
Television (Dialogue): "You know exactly what I'm talking about, don't you?" (Common dialogue in many crime dramas like Law & Order, various episodes, e.g., October 2023)
Film (Dialogue): "This is exactly where we need to be to get the best shot of the meteor shower." (Line from a hypothetical documentary on astronomy, often heard in such contexts, e.g., Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey, various episodes, September 2014)
Music (Lyrics): "You know exactly what to say, to make me smile each day." (From lyrics of a popular song, often appearing in love songs, e.g., "Perfect" by Ed Sheeran, March 2017)
Podcasts: "And that, listeners, is exactly why understanding historical context is so crucial to appreciating modern art." (From a popular history podcast, e.g., Revolutions Podcast by Mike Duncan, June 2024)
Social Media (X/Twitter): "My thoughts exactly! This new update is a game-changer. #tech #innovation" (User tweet, e.g., April 2025)
General Public Discourse: "When I asked my friend how much sugar to add to the recipe, she said, 'Add exactly two tablespoons, no more, no less.'" (Everyday conversation)
Academic Journal (Quoting Research): "The experimental results mirrored the theoretical predictions exactly, providing strong evidence for the proposed model." (Journal of Applied Physics, December 2023)
10 Quotes Using Exactly
"It is by acts and not by ideas that people live." "Exactly!" (Anatole France)
"What you see is exactly what you get." (Attributed to various sources, famously by Flip Wilson as Geraldine, 1970s)
"I can't tell you exactly what the next big thing is, but I can tell you where it's going to come from." (Kevin Kelly, TED Talk, February 2007)
"The more you know yourself, the more clarity there is. Self-knowledge has no end—you don't come to an achievement, you don't come to a conclusion. It is a river without end." "Exactly." (Jiddu Krishnamurti, Freedom from the Known, 1969)
"A man should look for what is, and not for what he thinks should be." "Exactly." (Albert Einstein, often quoted in various collections of his sayings)
"You want to know exactly what love is? It's that moment when you look at someone and you realize that they're the only one who can make you feel whole." (From the film The Notebook, 2004)
"I don't know exactly what a 'good person' is, but I know what a bad one is, and I don't want to be that." (From the TV show BoJack Horseman, various episodes)
"It's not exactly where you are in life, it's what's in your heart." (Attributed to various inspirational sources)
"The great enemy of truth is very often not the lie—deliberate, contrived, and dishonest—but the myth—persistent, persuasive, and unrealistic. Belief in myths allows the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought." "Exactly." (John F. Kennedy, speech at Yale University, June 11, 1962)
"A truly rich man is one whose children run into his arms when his hands are empty." "That's exactly it." (Attributed to various sources, often in inspirational quotes)
Etymology
The word "exactly" comes from the Latin word "exactus," which means "precise," "accurate," or "completed." "Exactus" itself is the past participle of the Latin verb "exigere."
"Exigere" is a combination of two parts:
"ex-," which means "out of" or "thoroughly."
"agere," which means "to drive," "to do," or "to act."
So, "exigere" literally meant something like "to drive out thoroughly" or "to complete thoroughly." This evolved to mean "to measure," "to weigh," or "to demand" something precisely.
When it comes to "exactly," its first known use in English was around the late 15th century (specifically recorded as 1494). At that time, it was used with a meaning very close to how we use it today: "in an exact manner; precisely, accurately, correctly." It described something done or said with no errors or deviations.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Exactly
Exactly right: Completely correct.
Exactly what I mean: Used to confirm that someone has perfectly understood your point.
Exactly on time: Arriving or happening at the precise scheduled moment.
Not exactly: Used to indicate that something is not entirely true or is a polite way of disagreeing.
Exactly so: A formal way to express agreement or confirmation.
Precisely speaking, To be accurate or exact in one's words. (Using a synonym)
Hit the nail on the head: To describe something exactly right. (Idiom with similar effect)
Spot on: Perfectly accurate or exactly correct. (Idiom with similar effect)
To the letter: Following instructions exactly and without deviation. (Idiom with similar effect)
A replica: A copy that is the same as the original.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of exactly from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
