actually

adverb

ac·​tu·​al·​ly ˈak-ch(ə-w)ə-lē 

-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

Synonyms of actually

• honestly
• frankly
• really
• indeed

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

Nonetheless, Khatima recorded a series of facts which indicated that the Black Death actually was communicable. —Literary Hub, 27 May 2026

Though a Grand Slam can actually be won by a rider using different horses, the closeness of the partnership is absolutely crucial to success. —Danielle Rossingh, New York Times, 27 May 2026

Haberstroh updated his findings on Tuesday ahead of Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals, and found that SGA has actually become more prone to falling as the postseason has progressed. —Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 27 May 2026

The peppery flavor of this fast-growing green actually benefits from the shade, keeping it from getting too spicy. —Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 May 2026

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

Rhymes for actually

• dually
• contextually
• unusually

Kids Definition

actually

adverb

ac·​tu·​al·​ly ˈak-ch(ə-w)ə-lē 

ˈak-sh(ə-w)ə-lē

: in fact or in truth : really

she actually spoke Spanish

actually, I didn't want to go