exactly
1 ENTRIES FOUND:
Britannica Dictionary definition of EXACTLY
[more exactly; most exactly]
1
— used to stress that something is accurate, complete, or correct
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The mansion has exactly 33 rooms.
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I know exactly where they went.
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The two rooms are exactly the same size.
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When exactly are they supposed to arrive? = Exactly when are they supposed to arrive?
2
informal
— used in speech to say that what someone has said is exactly correct or that you agree with it completely
—
see also not exactly (below)
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“So you think we should take an earlier flight?” “Exactly.” [=yes, that's exactly what I think]
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“It's just not worth the trouble.” “Exactly.”
3
:
in a correct or precise way
:
in a way that agrees completely with what is needed
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The levers need to be exactly positioned.
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You need to do exactly [=just, precisely] as you're told.
4
:
in every way
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That was exactly the wrong thing to do.
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He is exactly what a good student ought to be.
not exactly
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
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“He's your boss, isn't he?” “Not exactly.”
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“Did everything go the way you planned it?” “Not exactly.”
2
— used as a humorous or ironic way to say “not”
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He's not exactly the smartest guy I've ever met. [=he is not very smart]
