exact

1 of 2

verb

ex·​act ig-ˈzakt 

exacted; exacting; exacts

transitive verb

1

: to call for forcibly or urgently and obtain

from them has been exacted the ultimate sacrifice

—D. D. Eisenhower

2

: to call for as necessary or desirable

exactable

ig-ˈzak-tə-bəl 

adjective

exactor noun

or less commonly exacter

ig-ˈzak-tər 

exact

2 of 2

adjective

1

: exhibiting or marked by strict, particular, and complete accordance with fact or a standard

2

: marked by thorough consideration or minute measurement of small factual details

exactness

ig-ˈzak(t)-nəs 

noun

Did you know?

Exact derives from a form of the Latin verb exigere, meaning "to drive out, to demand, or to measure." (Another descendant of exigere is the word exigent, which can mean "demanding" or "requiring immediate attention.") Exigere, in turn, was formed by combining the prefix ex- with the verb agere, meaning "to drive." Agere has been a prolific source of words for English speakers; it is the ancestor of agent, react, mitigate, and navigate, just to name a few. Incidentally, if you are looking for a synonym of the verb exact, you could try demand, call for, claim, or require.

Did you know?

Do you exact or extract revenge?

The verb exact (as in, "exacting revenge" or "exacting a promise") is not as commonly encountered as the adjective exact, (as in "an exact copy" or "exact measurements"). Sometimes people will mistakenly use the more common verb extract when they really want exact. Extract can refer to removing something by pulling or cutting or to getting information from someone who does not want to give it. While both words refer to getting something they are used in different ways. You extract a tooth, but you exact revenge.

Synonyms

Verb

• call (for)
• claim
• clamor (for)
• command
• demand
• enjoin
• insist (on)
• press (for)
• quest
• stipulate (for)

Adjective

• accurate
• bang on [chiefly British]
• correct
• dead-on
• good
• on-target
• precise
• proper
• right
• so
• spot-on
• true
• veracious

Choose the Right Synonym for exact

Verb

demand, claim, require, exact mean to ask or call for something as due or as necessary.

demand implies peremptoriness and insistence and often the right to make requests that are to be regarded as commands.

demanded payment of the debt

claim implies a demand for the delivery or concession of something due as one's own or one's right.

claimed the right to manage his own affairs

require suggests the imperativeness that arises from inner necessity, compulsion of law or regulation, or the exigencies of the situation.

the patient requires constant attention

exact implies not only demanding but getting what one demands.

exacts absolute loyalty

Adjective

correct, accurate, exact, precise, nice, right mean conforming to fact, standard, or truth.

correct usually implies freedom from fault or error.

correct answers

socially correct dress

accurate implies fidelity to fact or truth attained by exercise of care.

an accurate description

exact stresses a very strict agreement with fact, standard, or truth.

exact measurements

precise adds to exact an emphasis on sharpness of definition or delimitation.

precise calibration

nice stresses great precision and delicacy of adjustment or discrimination.

makes nice distinctions

right is close to correct but has a stronger positive emphasis on conformity to fact or truth rather than mere absence of error or fault.

the right thing to do

Examples of exact in a Sentence

Verb

They would not rest until they had exacted revenge.

He was able to exact a promise from them.

Adjective

Those were his exact words.

The exact cause of the fire is still under investigation.

We don't know the exact nature of the problem.

Predicting the path of hurricanes is not an exact science.

The police have an exact description of the killer.

Please take the most exact measurements possible.

He is very exact in the way he solves a problem.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

But perhaps this is the signal-caller that best fits Sean Payton’s exacting style. —Joe Nguyen, The Denver Post, 25 Apr. 2024

This is par for the course for an exacting production that also features beautifully warm lighting by Natasha Katz, a functional-yet-elegant multitiered scenic design by Robert Brill and uncompromisingly ’90s costumes by Dede Ayite (oh, those Timberlands, FUBU jackets and mom jeans). —Elisabeth Vincentelli, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English exacten "to require as payment," borrowed from Latin exāctus, past participle of exigere "to drive out, achieve, enforce payment of or the performance of (a task), require, inquire into, examine" from ex- ex- entry 1 + agere "to drive (cattle), be in motion, do, perform" — more at agent

Adjective

borrowed from Latin exāctus, from past participle of exigere "to drive out, achieve, require, inquire into, examine, measure" — more at exact entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

1564, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1533, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing exact

• exact differential
• exact opposite
• exact same
• exact science
• same exact
• to be exact

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Kids Definition

exact

1 of 2 verb

ex·​act ig-ˈzakt 

1

: to demand and get by force or threat

exact burdensome concessions

2

: to call for as necessary or desirable

exact a high price

exaction

-ˈzak-shən

noun

exact

2 of 2 adjective

1

: fully and completely in agreement with fact, a standard, or an original

the exact time

an exact rhyme

an exact replica

2

: providing great accuracy

exact instruments

exactness

-ˈzak(t)-nəs

noun