Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

exactly

/ɪɡˈzæk(t).li/

Word Rarity Common

Frequency: 5.15 in modern English

Syllables: ex-act-ly
IPA: /ɪɡˈzæk(t).li/

19

Scrabble Score

7

Letters

3

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

adv

Without approximation; precisely.

adv

Precisely, used to provide emphasis.

intj

Signifies agreement or recognition.

Example Sentences

"Measure exactly so we can be sure it is right."
"The edge is not exactly straight."
"He divided the coins exactly in half."
"He, that would write exactly, muſt avoid a Barbarous Pronunciation, and conſider for facility, or thorow miſtake, many words are not ſounded after the beſt dialect. Such as […] Wun, one."
"He did it that way exactly to prove the point."
"His hair is a semilong dull red and pulled back in a sloppy pony at the base of his neck, and his face is riddled with small freckles and grease, but out here I can see personal hygiene isn't exactly at the top of the priority list."

Etymology

From exact + -ly.

Inflected Forms

more exactly (comparative) most exactly (superlative)

Derived Forms

eggsactly exacatically exactically exactually perxactly perzackly perzactly prexactly prezackly prezactly

Phrases

do exactly what it says on the tin my point exactly not exactly

Synonyms

accurately exact perfectly correctly dead-nuts definitely directly even for sure exactly fully incisively

Antonyms

approximately imprecisely inaccurately incorrectly inexactly

Rhymes With

factly

Questions

How do you pronounce exactly?: The recorded pronunciation is /ɪɡˈzæk(t).li/.
What does exactly mean?: Without approximation; precisely.
Where does exactly come from?: From exact + -ly.

How to pronounce exactly

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “exactly”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ɪɡˈzæk(t).li/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “exactly”.
Repeat and practice — Say “exactly” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.