not exactly
idiom
informal
1
—used in speech as a mild way of saying "no" especially to indicate that what someone has said is not completely correct or true
"He's your boss, isn't he?" "Not exactly."
"Did everything go the way you planned it?" "Not exactly."
2
—used as a humorous or ironic way to say "not"
He's not exactly the smartest guy I've ever met.
Examples of not exactly in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In a film and television market where less is being made and actors, writers, and directors are finding it harder and harder to get consistent work, executives’ talk about the potential of AI is not exactly landing well.
—
Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 10 Dec. 2025
Wilson is not exactly living out an early childhood dream.
—Sean Gregory, Time, 10 Dec. 2025
That is very hard to marry though with everything known about Harry, who appears on the face of it to be enjoying life in America even if the current president is not exactly his cup of tea.
—Jack Royston, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2025
Such tools are not exactly steps on the road to digital superintelligence.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 9 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for not exactly
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Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 10 Dec. 2025
Wilson is not exactly living out an early childhood dream.
—Sean Gregory, Time, 10 Dec. 2025
That is very hard to marry though with everything known about Harry, who appears on the face of it to be enjoying life in America even if the current president is not exactly his cup of tea.
—Jack Royston, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2025
Such tools are not exactly steps on the road to digital superintelligence.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 9 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for not exactly
Cite this Entry
“Not exactly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/not%20exactly. Accessed 12 Dec. 2025.
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