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March 31, 2017 Word of the Day

exactly /ɪgˈzæktli/ adverb
exactly
/ɪgˈzæktli/
adverb
There are exactly 6 doughnuts.
There are exactly 6 doughnuts.
Definition of EXACTLY

[more exactly; most exactly]

1 — used to stress that something is accurate, complete, or correct

  • The mansion has exactly 33 rooms.

  • I know exactly where they went.

  • The two rooms are exactly the same size.

  • 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

  • “So you think we should take an earlier flight?” “Exactly.” [=yes, that's exactly what I think]

  • “It's just not worth the trouble.” “Exactly.”

3 : in a correct or precise way

  • The levers need to be exactly positioned.

: in a way that agrees completely with what is needed

  • You need to do exactly [=just, precisely] as you're told.

4 : in every way

  • That was exactly the wrong thing to do.

  • He is exactly what a good student ought to be.

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