Synonyms of actually

actually

adverb

ˈak-ch(ə-w)ə-lē 

1

as in honestly

to tell the truth

actually, I'd rather spend the evening at home

Synonyms & Similar Words

• honestly
• frankly
• really
• indeed
• certainly
• truly
• truthfully
• absolutely
• admittedly
• in fact
• to be sure
• as a matter of fact
• positively
• in reality
• undoubtedly
• in truth
• in actuality
• verily
• in point of fact
• unquestionably
• realistically
• forsooth
• indisputably
• indubitably
• veritably

2

as in really

in actual fact

I call her Aunt Emily, but she is actually my cousin, not my aunt

Synonyms & Similar Words

• really
• very
• truly
• just
• genuinely
• simply
• exactly
• in reality
• almost
• literally
• practically
• in truth
• veritably
• authentically
• in actuality
• accurately
• certifiably
• precisely
• nearly
• positively
• virtually
• squarely
• sharp
• right
• smack-dab

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• supposedly
• apparently
• seemingly
• ostensibly
• outwardly
• professedly
• plausibly

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of actually

And then, actually, what was cool was that the Palestinians then went back out to their olive harvest. — Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026

But that logical choice came with the inconvenient fact that teams must actually play games to prove their worth. — Armando Salguero Outkick, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2026

What guests actually remember about a watch party The hosting details that stick are the ones easiest to forget. — Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2026

The pre-selection debates about three- or four-loss SEC squads and some team no one actually watches will prove incredibly tiresome, too. — Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 19 Oct. 2026