- exactly
- ex|act|ly [ ıg`zæktli ] adverb ***1. ) no more and no less than a particular amount or time: PRECISELY:It's exactly three o'clock.The wood should measure five centimeters exactly.2. ) in every way or every detail:The house is exactly the same as it was 20 years ago.She sounds exactly like her mother.a ) used for emphasizing that you are referring to a particular thing and no other:She was standing exactly where you are now.3. ) SPOKEN used as a reply for saying that you completely agree with someone:If he'd gone to bed early, he wouldn't be so tired. Exactly!not exactly SPOKEN1. ) used for saying that something is slightly different from a particular thing:It's not exactly a novel, more an extended short story.2. ) OFTEN HUMOROUS used for emphasizing that someone or something does not have a particular quality:$300,000 for a picture is not exactly cheap.She's not exactly the world's greatest singer.3. ) used for saying that something someone says is not completely right:You're leaving, aren't you? Not exactly, I'm just going on vacation.what/where/when etc. exactlyused for asking someone for more details about something:What exactly did he say?Where exactly do you live?
Usage of the words and phrases in modern English. 2013.