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.
But Lamont says the consumers are actually paying less this year than last year due to the complicated nuances of the controversial public benefits charges. — Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 28 Oct. 2026 Whether Riley will actually have a say in that decision remains to be seen. — Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2026 The court filing alleges that social media users believed that the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders actually made appearances at the My Chemical Romance concert, and that the circulation of videos was not accidental. — Maven Navarro, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Oct. 2026 Everybody wants to bring back trip-hop, but no one remembers how filthy Dummy actually sounds. — Sam Goldner, Pitchfork, 27 Oct. 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 1 Nov. 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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