You use exactly before an amount, number, or position to emphasize that it is no more, no less, or no different from what you are stating.
[emphasis]
Each corner had a guard tower, each of which was exactly ten meters in height.
Agnew's car pulled into the driveway at exactly five o'clock.
It seems logical to keep a moving subject exactly in the middle of the picture.
2. adverb
If you say 'Exactly', you are agreeing with someone or emphasizing the truth of what they say. If you say 'Not exactly', you are telling them politely that they are wrong in part of what they are saying.
Eve nodded, almost approvingly. 'Exactly.'.
'We don't know the answer to that.'—'Exactly–so shut up and stop speculating.'.
'And you refused?'—'Well, not exactly. I couldn't say yes.'
3. adverb [notADV, usu ADV group]
You use not exactly to indicate that a meaning or situation is slightly different from what people think or expect.
[vagueness]
He's not exactly homeless, he just hangs out in this park.
4. adverb [notADV, usu ADV group]
You can use not exactly to show that you mean the opposite of what you are saying.
[emphasis]
This was not exactly what I wanted to hear.
Sailing is not exactly cheap.
5. adverb
You use exactly with a question to show that you disapprove of what the person you are talking to is doing or saying.
[disapproval]
What exactly do you mean?
Exactly what are you looking for?
6. See also exact
More Synonyms of exactly
exactly in British English
(ɪɡˈzæktlɪ)
adverb
1.
in an exact manner; accurately or precisely
2.
in every respect; just
it is exactly what I want
3. not exactly
sentence substitute
4.
just so! precisely!
exactly in American English
(ɛgˈzæktli; ɪgˈzæktli)
adverb
in an exact manner; accurately; correctly; precisely
also used as an affirmative reply, equivalent to “I agree,” “quite true”
Examples of 'exactly' in a sentence
exactly
Which is exactly how we like it.
The Sun (2017)
These games show you exactly how we need to evolve.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
We are almost exactly the same age.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We work very hard and know exactly what we have to do on the pitch.
The Sun (2016)
Two films this year nailed exactly what it means to be human.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
This can look exactly like a stroke but is cured almost instantly by an urgent dose of glucose.
The Sun (2016)
They're really honest and say it exactly how it is.
The Sun (2016)
It isn't long before you can see exactly why they stopped enjoying the tours.
The Sun (2016)
It doesn't stop them understanding exactly what is going on, though.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
You just know exactly what kind of chants are going to come back to us now, but I can deal with that.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
When considering a new account it is crucial to think about exactly how you use it.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
We would all find a doll that looked exactly like us equally disconcerting.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
He just seemed exactly the right kind of person to ask.
The Sun (2012)
We have put an exhaustive amount of information out there to show people exactly what we do.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Or that they carry their young for almost exactly the same time as we do?
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
This may not sound much of a challenge until you see exactly what is involved.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
It is hard for most of us to know exactly what to say.
Christianity Today (2000)
Many of us understand exactly what he meant.
Bethune, Helen Positive Parent Power (1991)
Now we know almost exactly how many books are being sold.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Which means she knew exactly what it was.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
She used these advantages exactly as a champion should.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
We have the business exactly as we like it.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The resulting picture of the coronary arteries can show exactly where a narrowing or blockage occurs.
Wallace, Louise M & Bundy, Christine Coping with Angina (1990)
It was found in almost exactly the same spot it had been dropped.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Then you can see exactly what you have time to do.
The Sun (2012)
It is most important that you understand exactly what the question requires you to do.
Bachmann, Susan (editor) & Barth, Melinda Between Worlds: A Reader, Rhetoric and Handbook (1995)
He knows exactly who wrote that line.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
What exactly is meant by comprehensive school health?
McKenzie, James F. & Pinger, Robert R. An Introduction to Community Health (1995)
He wanted to explain exactly how it used to work.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
There they will meet people exactly like themselves.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Projects a laser to show exactly where hair will be cut.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
They are entirely callous and in a position to get out of you just exactly what they want.
Joanna Blythman SHOPPED: The Shocking Power of British Supermarkets (2004)
It was just exactly where you wanted to go on a rainy night a long way from home.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The plot is almost exactly the same and the pace seems to have dropped a notch or two.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
In other languages
exactly
British English: exactly /ɪɡˈzæktlɪ/ ADVERB
Exactly means in an exact manner, accurately or precisely.
Where exactly is the smell coming from?
American English: exactly
Arabic: تـَمَاماً
Brazilian Portuguese: exatamente
Chinese: 严密地
Croatian: precizno
Czech: přesně
Danish: præcist
Dutch: precies
European Spanish: exactamente
Finnish: täsmälleen
French: exactement
German: genau
Greek: ακριβώς
Italian: esattamente
Japanese: 正確に
Korean: 정확히
Norwegian: akkurat
Polish: dokładnie
European Portuguese: exatamente
Romanian: exact
Russian: точно
Latin American Spanish: exactamente
Swedish: exakt
Thai: อย่างถูกต้อง
Turkish: tam olarak
Ukrainian: точно
Vietnamese: một cách chính xác
Chinese translation of 'exactly'
exactly
(ɪɡˈzæktlɪ)
adv
(= precisely) 确(確)切地 (quèqiè de)
a tower exactly 10 metres in height一座正好10米高的塔 (yī zuò zhènghǎo shí mǐ gāo de tǎ )
(indicating emphasis) 正是 (zhèngshì)
(indicating agreement) 一点(點)不错(錯) (yīdiǎn bùcuò)
at 5 o'clock exactly在5点(點)整时(時) (zài wǔ diǎn zhěng shí)
not exactly (indicating disagreement) 不完全是 (bù wánquán shì)
he's not exactly rich/poor他一点(點)也算不上富/穷(窮) (tā yīdiǎn yě suànbushàng fù/qióng)
All related terms of 'exactly'
not exactly
( indicating disagreement ) 不完全是 bù wánquán shì
at 5 o'clock exactly
在5点(點)整时(時) zài wǔ diǎn zhěng shí
he's not exactly rich/poor
他一点(點)也算不上富/穷(窮) tā yīdiǎn yě suànbushàng fù/qióng
a tower exactly 10 metres in height
一座正好10米高的塔 yī zuò zhènghǎo shí mǐ gāo de tǎ
he's not exactly patient at the best of times
即使在最好的情况(況)下，他也不怎么(麼)耐心 jíshǐ zài zuì hǎo de qíngkuàng xià, tā yě bù zěnme nàixīn
1 (adverb)
Definition
with complete accuracy and precision
Can you describe exactly what he looked like?
Synonyms
accurately
The test can accurately predict what a bigger explosion would do.
correctly
Did I pronounce your name correctly?
definitely
truly
a truly democratic system
precisely
The meeting began at precisely 4.00 p.m.
strictly
literally
The word `volk' translates literally as `folk'.
faithfully
explicitly
rigorously
unequivocally
scrupulously
truthfully
methodically
unerringly
faultlessly
veraciously
2 (adverb)
Definition
in every respect
He arrived at exactly five o'clock.
Synonyms
precisely
`Is that what you meant?' – `Precisely.'
just
Kiwi fruit are just the thing for a healthy snack.
expressly
Bleasdale had written the role expressly for this actor.
prompt (informal)
The invitation specifies eight o'clock prompt.
specifically
brain cells, or more specifically, neurons
bang on (informal)
to the letter
She obeyed his instructions to the letter.
on the button (informal)
(sentence substitute)
Definition
just so! precisely!
`We don't know the answer to that.' – `Exactly. So shut up and stop speculating.'
Synonyms
precisely
yes
quite
of course
certainly
indeed
truly
that's right
absolutely
spot-on (British, informal)
just so
quite so
ya (South Africa)
as you say
you got it (informal)
assuredly
yebo (South Africa, informal)
phrase
See not exactly
Additional synonyms
in the sense of correctly
Did I pronounce your name correctly?
Synonyms
rightly,
right,
perfectly,
properly,
precisely,
accurately,
aright
in the sense of expressly
Definition
deliberately and specifically
Bleasdale had written the role expressly for this actor.
Synonyms
specifically,
specially,
especially,
particularly,
purposely,
exclusively,
precisely,
solely,
exactly,
deliberately,
intentionally,
on purpose
in the sense of just
Definition
exactly
Kiwi fruit are just the thing for a healthy snack.