Adjacent Words

Exactly definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

EXACT'LY, adv. Precisely according to rule or measure; nicely; accurately. A tenon should be exactly fitted to the mortise.
1. Precisely according to fact. The story exactly accords with the fact or event.
2. Precisely according to principle, justice or right.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

adv
1: indicating exactness or preciseness; "he was doing precisely (or exactly) what she had told him to do"; "it was just as he said--the jewel was gone"; "it has just enough salt" [syn: precisely, exactly, just]
2: just as it should be; "`Precisely, my lord,' he said" [syn: precisely, exactly, on the nose, on the dot, on the button]
3: in a precise manner; "she always expressed herself precisely" [syn: precisely, incisively, exactly] [ant: imprecisely, inexactly]

Merriam Webster's

adverb Date: 1612 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

Oxford Reference Dictionary

adv. 1 accurately, precisely; in an exact manner (worked it out exactly). 2 in exact terms (exactly when did it happen?). 3 (said in reply) quite so; I quite agree. Phrases and idioms: not exactly colloq. 1 by no means. 2 not precisely.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Exactly Ex*act"ly, adv. In an exact manner; precisely according to a rule, standard, or fact; accurately; strictly; correctly; nicely. ``Exactly wrought.'' --Shak. His enemies were pleased, for he had acted exactly as their interests required. --Bancroft.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English. 1. You use exactly before an amount, number, or position to emphasize that it is no more, no less, or no different from what you are stating. Each corner had a guard tower, each of which was exactly ten meters in height... Agnew's car pulled into the driveway at exactly five o'clock... = precisely ADV: usu ADV num, also ADV prep/adv [emphasis] 2. If you say 'Exactly', you are agreeing with someone or emphasizing the truth of what they say. If you say 'Not exactly', you are telling them politely that they are wrong in part of what they are saying. Eve nodded, almost approvingly. 'Exactly.'... 'And you refused?'—'Well, not exactly. I couldn't say yes.' = precisely ADV: ADV as reply 3. You use not exactly to indicate that a meaning or situation is slightly different from what people think or expect. He's not exactly homeless, he just hangs out in this park. ADV: not ADV, usu ADV group [vagueness] 4. You can use not exactly to show that you mean the opposite of what you are saying. This was not exactly what I wanted to hear... Sailing is not exactly cheap. ADV: not ADV, usu ADV group [emphasis] 5. You use exactly with a question to show that you disapprove of what the person you are talking to is doing or saying. What exactly do you mean?... = precisely ADV: ADV with quest [disapproval] 6. see also exact

Moby Thesaurus

OK, Roger, absolutely, accurately, all, all in all, all right, alright, alrighty, altogether, amen, as well, as you say, assuredly, at the gun, aye, bang, by all means, certainly, closely, completely, concretely, conscientiously, correctly, da, dead, definitely, directly, distinctly, especially, even, exactingly, explicitly, expressly, exquisitely, faithfully, faultlessly, fine, flush, full, fussily, good, good enough, hear, in all respects, in detail, in every respect, in particular, in toto, indeed, indeedy, ipsissimis verbis, item by item, ja, just, just so, kerplunk, literally, literatim, mais oui, methodically, meticulously, minutely, most assuredly, naturally, naturellement, nicely, of course, okay, on the dot, on the instant, on the minute, on time, oui, particularly, perfectly, plop, plumb, plump, plunk, point-blank, positively, precisely, punctiliously, punctually, quite, rather, really, refinedly, right, righto, rigidly, rigorously, scrupulously, separately, sharp, singly, smack, smack-dab, spang, specially, specifically, square, squarely, stick, straight, strictly, sure, sure thing, surely, systematically, to be specific, to be sure, to the letter, to the minute, totally, truly, undeniably, undeviatingly, unequivocally, unerringly, utterly, verbally, verbatim, verbatim et litteratim, very well, well and good, wholly, why yes, with exactitude, with great nicety, with precision, word by word, word for word, yea, yeah, yep, yes, yes indeed, yes indeedy, yes sir, yes sirree