actually

adverb

ˈak-ch(ə-w)ə-lē How to pronounce actually (audio)
Definition of actuallynext
1
as in honestly
to tell the truth actually, I'd rather spend the evening at home

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of actually However, Buffett revealed that the trade was actually initiated by him. — CNBC, 3 Aug. 2026 While there’s a lot of fear right now about AI taking people’s jobs, AI could actually help people get jobs – including those with some of the most significant barriers to employment. — August 3, NPR, 3 Aug. 2026 But the tools we're allowed to use are the ones nobody wants, while the ones that could actually be useful get stuck in internal gatekeeping. — Kristin Stoller, Fortune, 3 Aug. 2026 Champion swimmer Dara Torres says that the chlorine in the pool actually helps her psoriasis. — Andrea Wurzburger, PEOPLE, 3 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for actually
Recent Examples of Synonyms for actually
  1. honestly
  2. really
  3. frankly
  4. very
  5. indeed
  6. truly
Adverb
  • Leaders must honestly review past performance, confronting uncomfortable truths rather than defending old decisions.
    — Dev Patnaik, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
  • The historian Eugen Weber wrote influentially of how peasants who spoke languages like Occitan, Breton, or Basque became—or, more honestly, were made—Frenchmen.
    — Nikhil Krishnan, New Yorker, 20 July 2026
Definition of honestly
Adverb
  • Vogue’s Favorite Korean Skin-Care Products So when thinking about the ingredients that really define K-beauty in 2026, experts say to look at the ones that take it back to the basics.
    — Audrey Noble, Vogue, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Otherwise, actors really do have to pucker up and act professional when filming an intimate scene.
    — Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of really
Adverb
  • His family immigrated to New York in the Ellis Island era a little over 100 years ago and, frankly, nobody wanted to hire them.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Have any of you guys been haunted by the frankly upsetting scene in Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey in which Circe cooks what can only be described as a very messed up stew?
    — Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 31 July 2026
Definition of frankly
Adverb
  • Veejay is a great model and sells Naheim’s and Jeffrey’s outfits, which are both really fashionable and exciting; Jeffrey’s burgundy suit is very femme-fatale Ursula.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 31 July 2026
  • Moore has earned the praise after having a very strong spring.
    — Mike Kaye July 31, Charlotte Observer, 31 July 2026
Definition of very
Adverb
  • Our beef tenderloin was tender indeed, served with boniato - Japanese sweet potato - and miso butter.
    — Connie Ogle July 31, Miami Herald, 31 July 2026
  • Infrared illumination through the device indeed triggered photocurrents in those cells.
    — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 31 July 2026
Definition of indeed
Adverb
  • Marienlyst Strandhotel, right on the waterfront in Helsingør, is a truly wonderful escape that features sweeping views, spa indulgence, and effortless Scandi style.
    — Condé Nast Traveler, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Allow August to remind you that being truly ready is just the byproduct of taking action and being in the right place at the right time.
    — Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of truly

Browse Nearby Words

actualizing
actually
actuate
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Actually.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/actually. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

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