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-
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

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.
For the individuals that are actually operating the fireworks, an important safety precaution to remember is to light the fireworks away from the body without projecting the face over the fire. Omer Awan, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025 In a statement to the Miami Herald, Perez rejected the notion that the Northeast Corridor dollars were actually at risk and warned the DeSantis administration against attempting to cut funding in the Miami area. Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 1 July 2025 What feels like a delay can actually be divine timing in disguise. Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 July 2025 But actually everybody pulled together really quickly. Alex Ritman, Variety, 1 July 2025 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

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Cite this Entry

“Actually.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/actually. Accessed 10 Jul. 2025.

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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