1
as in honestly
to tell the truth
actually, I'd rather spend the evening at home
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in really
in actual fact
I call her Aunt Emily, but she is actually my cousin, not my aunt
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of actually
For the 2024-25 school year, the only school that will actually close as a K-12 facility will be Broward Estates Elementary in Lauderhill, which is becoming an early learning center.
—
Scott Travis, Sun Sentinel, 27 May 2025
But that raises a follow-up question: If AI is on the path to becoming an autonomous insurance agent, what does that path actually look like?
—Sam Henry, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025
Data from China's national statistics bureau shows that when U.S. tariffs reached their peak, the value of overall exports actually jumped by 8.1% in April when compared to the previous year, beating economists' predictions.
—Emily Feng, NPR, 27 May 2025
Of its initial funding, PayPal spent less than $10 million actually building its app—but pumped an additional $70 million or so into a referral program, whereby new users and the person who invited them would each receive $10 in credit.
—Billy Perrigo, Time, 27 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for actually
Scott Travis, Sun Sentinel, 27 May 2025
But that raises a follow-up question: If AI is on the path to becoming an autonomous insurance agent, what does that path actually look like?
—Sam Henry, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025
Data from China's national statistics bureau shows that when U.S. tariffs reached their peak, the value of overall exports actually jumped by 8.1% in April when compared to the previous year, beating economists' predictions.
—Emily Feng, NPR, 27 May 2025
Of its initial funding, PayPal spent less than $10 million actually building its app—but pumped an additional $70 million or so into a referral program, whereby new users and the person who invited them would each receive $10 in credit.
—Billy Perrigo, Time, 27 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for actually
Recent Examples of Synonyms for actually
Adverb
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The robots, honestly, aren’t yet amazing at punching and kicking each other, and sometimes fall off-balance while attacking or defending themselves.—
John Koetsier,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2025
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Each shopper is limited to 3 Lip Butter Balms per color per purchase, and honestly, that’s just not enough!—
Alyssa Grabinski,
People.com,
31 May 2025
Adverb
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No team besides the Pittsburgh Pirates is really out of the NL Central race, but the Cubs have the opportunity to really run away with it.—
Aaliyan Mohammed,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 May 2025
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And the city and state taxpayers will bear the cost of any fix — and does anyone really think our government is capable of doing that effectively? — Dean Gerber, Chicago Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
28 May 2025
Adverb
-
But perhaps the biggest rebuttal against Treasury securities losing their haven status is, frankly, that there are no better alternatives (for now?).—
Hugh Cameron,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 May 2025
-
And just in time, frankly — if there was ever a time when the country required stability, this is it.—
Janine Henni,
People.com,
23 May 2025
Adverb
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Every department, every person in the show, every actor is just bringing it to the very last take to the very last minute.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
27 May 2025
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The very warm sea surface temperatures in the region where Hurricane Milton was developing were at or above record-breaking highs, helping to foster this rapid intensification.—
Maureen Mccann,
The Orlando Sentinel,
26 May 2025
Adverb
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This is very compact indeed, having just a sink and quartz countertop.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
23 May 2025
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The resulting 2022 report concluded that the grid was indeed inadequate but led to little in the way of solutions.—
Tony Schick,
ProPublica,
12 May 2025
Adverb
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Viewers will now have to wonder whether Ellie truly dies (a plausible scenario, given the current body count), and the wait could last up to two years given the previous gap between seasons.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
27 May 2025
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But is tinned fish’s resurgence truly a recession indicator?—
Ramishah Maruf,
CNN Money,
27 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Actually.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/actually. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.
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