exactly

exactly

adverb

Definition of EXACTLY

1

as stated or indicated without the slightest difference <we will meet at exactly six o'clock>

Synonyms due, full, just, precisely, right, sharp, smack-dab, squarely

Phrases on the button, on the nose

2

in the same manner <he wants to be exactly like his father>

Synonyms exactly, precisely

Related Words even, expressly, faultlessly, perfectly; identically, uniformly; alike, likewise, similarly

Near Antonyms slightly, somewhat, vaguely; differently, variably

3

in the same words <a plagiarism suit alleging that one historian had copied large segments of another's text exactly>

Synonyms ad verbum, directly, exactly, word for word

Related Words accurately, precisely; identically; literally

Near Antonyms basically, essentially, virtually; carelessly, freely, imprecisely, inaccurately, loosely

Antonyms inexactly

4

without any relaxation of standards or precision <follow the rules exactly and you won't get into trouble>

Synonyms exactly, precisely, rigidly, rigorously

Related Words carefully, conscientiously, meticulously, scrupulously

Antonyms imprecisely, inexactly, loosely

5

to a full extent or degree <she listened to the advice, then did exactly what she wanted to anyway>

Synonyms all, all of, all over, altogether, clean, completely, dead, enough, entire, entirely, even, exactly, fast, flat, full, heartily, out, perfectly, plumb [chiefly dialect], quite, soundly, thoroughly, through and through, totally, utterly, well, wholly, wide

Related Words absolutely, categorically, cold, downright, hands down, plain, stone, stone-cold, unqualifiedly; basically, by and large, chiefly, generally, largely, mainly, more or less, mostly, overall, predominantly, predominately, primarily, principally, substantially; abundantly, copiously, generously, greatly

Near Antonyms barely, hardly, just, kind of, marginally, minimally, scarcely, slightly, superficially; approximately, roughly, somewhat

Antonyms half, halfway, incompletely, part, partially, partly

6

used to express agreement <“Are you calling me a liar?” “Exactly.”>

Synonyms all right, alright, aye (also ay), exactly, OK (or okay), okeydoke (or okeydokey), yea, yeah, yep, yo

Related Words absolutely, assuredly, certainly, indeed, indisputably, positively, undoubtedly, unquestionably

Antonyms nay, no, no way, scarcely