actually

adverb

ac·​tu·​al·​ly ˈak-ch(ə-w)ə-lē How to pronounce actually (audio)
-sh(ə-w)ə-lē;
ˈaksh-lē, 
ˈaks-
Synonyms of actually
1
: in act or in fact : really
trying to find out what actually happened
won't actually arrive for an hour
2
: in point of fact
—used to suggest something unexpected
was surprised to learn that she could actually speak German

Synonyms of actually

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Examples of actually in a Sentence

actually, I'd rather spend the evening at home I call her Aunt Emily, but she is actually my cousin, not my aunt.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
None of the fixes now being funded settle the deeper question a long-term holder actually cares about. — Boaz Sobrado, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026 Early on, the Pisces Moon in your 3rd House of Communication opposes Venus in your 9th House of Perspective, creating tension between what sounds nice and what is actually true. — Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 2 Aug. 2026 But whether all that stress actually gets released during a big quake is not definitively known. — Rong-Gong Lin Ii Los Angeles Times, Arkansas Online, 2 Aug. 2026 Many underestimate how much money a nonprofit can actually put to work. — Sydney Lake, Fortune, 2 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for actually

Word History

Etymology

Middle English actuelly, from actuel, actual actual + -ly -ly entry 2

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of actually was in the 15th century

Rhymes for actually

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Browse Nearby Words

actualize
actually
actual neurotic
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Cite this Entry

“Actually.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/actually. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

actually

adverb
ac·​tu·​al·​ly ˈak-ch(ə-w)ə-lē How to pronounce actually (audio)
ˈak-sh(ə-w)ə-lē
: in fact or in truth : really
she actually spoke Spanish
actually, I didn't want to go

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Nglish: Translation of actually for Spanish Speakers

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