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

Applying makeup on mature skin is actually all about utilizing products a way that enhances your natural skin for a more glowing, youthful look. — Alanna Martine Kilkeary, Glamour, 27 July 2026

And then there are those who actually believe that an ‘extra hour’ is literally magicked into the day. — Kevinisha Walker, Los Angeles Times, 27 July 2026

Apartment Therapy notes that shared homes often look mismatched because the furniture came from two different lives, not because the styles are actually incompatible. — Ashley Lynch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 July 2026

What seemed like a 21st-century innovation actually drew on the magazine’s origins; its earliest pages featured Old Hollywood stars like Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks. — Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 27 July 2026