exact

1 of 2

verb

ex·​act ig-ˈzakt How to pronounce exact (audio)
exacted; exacting; exacts

transitive verb

1
: to call for forcibly or urgently and obtain
from them has been exacted the ultimate sacrificeD. D. Eisenhower
2
: to call for as necessary or desirable
exactable adjective
exactor noun
or less commonly exacter

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 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.

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
Ten master’s students, mostly middle-age men and women, are listening and taking notes, awaiting their turn to present their thesis proposals before three exacting professors. Byemmet Livingstone, science.org, 3 Oct. 2024 The impetus for the sibling gathering in Blackpool, England, is the impending death of their exacting mother Veronica (Laura Donnelly). Dalton Ross, EW.com, 30 Sep. 2024
Adjective
The exact timing and landfall location remain shifting targets, but officials stress that the powerful storm will bring flooding and wind damage virtually statewide. Jeff Weiner, Axios, 7 Oct. 2024 And determining the exact composition of the double-asteroid system, as well as the consequences of the DART mission, could help space agencies further refine the technology that could deflect asteroids from affecting Earth in the future. Ashley Strickland, CNN, 7 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for exact 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'exact.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of exact was in 1533

Dictionary Entries Near exact

Cite this Entry

“Exact.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exact. Accessed 15 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

exact

1 of 2 verb
ex·​act ig-ˈzakt How to pronounce exact (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on exact

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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