exactly
adverb
ex·act·ly ig-ˈzak-(t)lē 
1
a
: in a manner or measure or to a degree or number that strictly conforms to a fact or condition
it's exactly 3 o'clock
these two pieces are exactly the same size
b
: in every respect : altogether, entirely
that was exactly the wrong thing to do
not exactly what I had in mind
2
: quite so —used to express agreement
Synonyms
- due
- full
- just
- precisely
- right
- sharp
- smack-dab
- squarely
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
The levers need to be exactly positioned. we will meet at exactly six o'clock
Recent Examples on the Web One man slept on a sidewalk in the rain with trash, food and filth littered around him on West 43rd Street this past Sunday morning, exactly two blocks from where New York City drops its iconic New Year’s Eve ball in Times Square. 
Fox News, 14 Sep. 2022 For someone who decides to blow the whistle with Whistleblower Aid’s help, the first step is to contact the organization—which isn’t exactly straightforward. WIRED, 14 Sep. 2022 The steep drop is the result of previous governments having pursued exactly the opposite of today’s agenda. Omid Khazani, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2022 But each of these pledges also intensifies the uncertainty about what exactly is being pledged. David Frum, The Atlantic, 14 Sep. 2022 Except Kendra Scott wasn’t exactly luxury, at least not in the way that Rodeo shoppers were accustomed to. Rory Satran, WSJ, 14 Sep. 2022 However, these quotes were not present in the Chinese readout of the meeting, which raises the question of exactly how formally China is willing to support Russia, as its invasion of Ukraine shows no sign of ending. Luke Mcgee, CNN, 14 Sep. 2022 Not exactly: There is no scientific consensus on whether and when fetuses begin to feel pain, and experts say that the 15-week threshold is not based on medical evidence. Grace Segers, The New Republic, 14 Sep. 2022 Last season was a mess, but in the preceding offseason, the Jazz didn’t exactly make proper moves to address their problems, to bolster the team’s chances for more success, to improve belief. Gordon Monson, The Salt Lake Tribune, 13 Sep. 2022 See More
Fox News, 14 Sep. 2022 For someone who decides to blow the whistle with Whistleblower Aid’s help, the first step is to contact the organization—which isn’t exactly straightforward. WIRED, 14 Sep. 2022 The steep drop is the result of previous governments having pursued exactly the opposite of today’s agenda. Omid Khazani, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2022 But each of these pledges also intensifies the uncertainty about what exactly is being pledged. David Frum, The Atlantic, 14 Sep. 2022 Except Kendra Scott wasn’t exactly luxury, at least not in the way that Rodeo shoppers were accustomed to. Rory Satran, WSJ, 14 Sep. 2022 However, these quotes were not present in the Chinese readout of the meeting, which raises the question of exactly how formally China is willing to support Russia, as its invasion of Ukraine shows no sign of ending. Luke Mcgee, CNN, 14 Sep. 2022 Not exactly: There is no scientific consensus on whether and when fetuses begin to feel pain, and experts say that the 15-week threshold is not based on medical evidence. Grace Segers, The New Republic, 14 Sep. 2022 Last season was a mess, but in the preceding offseason, the Jazz didn’t exactly make proper moves to address their problems, to bolster the team’s chances for more success, to improve belief. Gordon Monson, The Salt Lake Tribune, 13 Sep. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
exact entry 2 + -ly entry 2
First Known Use
1612, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Phrases Containing exactly
exactly
adverb
1
as in right
as stated or indicated without the slightest difference we will meet at exactly six o'clock Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- right
- just
- precisely
- sharp
- due
- squarely
- full
- smack-dab
- on the nose
- on the button
2
as in precisely
in the same manner he wants to be exactly like his father Synonyms & Similar Words
- precisely
- just
- perfectly
- even
- to a T
- identically
- expressly
- similarly
- uniformly
- faultlessly
- alike
- likewise
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- somewhat
- vaguely
- slightly
- differently
- variably
3
as in accurately
in the same words a plagiarism suit alleging that one historian had copied large segments of another's text exactly Synonyms & Similar Words
- accurately
- directly
- precisely
- verbatim
- word for word
- literally
- identically
- ad verbum
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- essentially
- basically
- virtually
- inexactly
- loosely
- freely
- carelessly
- imprecisely
- inaccurately
4
as in strictly
without any relaxation of standards or precision follow the rules exactly and you won't get into trouble Synonyms & Similar Words
- strictly
- precisely
- carefully
- rigidly
- rigorously
- scrupulously
- conscientiously
- meticulously
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- loosely
- imprecisely
- inexactly
5
as in all
to a full extent or degree she listened to the advice, then did exactly what she wanted to anyway Synonyms & Similar Words
- all
- perfectly
- quite
- totally
- fully
- completely
- even
- well
- utterly
- entirely
- wholly
- thoroughly
- absolutely
- fast
- out
- entire
- wide
- basically
- all of
- enough
- all the way
- all over
- for fair
- dead
- at length
- full
- flat
- to pieces
- altogether
- soundly
- clean
- in whole
- heartily
- to bits
- generally
- down to the ground
- mostly
- to the max
- to the hilt
- substantially
- categorically
- through and through
- plain
- largely
- plumb
- stone
- down the line
- downright
- primarily
- mainly
- principally
- cold
- overall
- predominantly
- greatly
- chiefly
- unqualifiedly
- predominately
- hands down
- abundantly
- generously
- more or less
- stone-cold
- by and large
- copiously
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- just
- partly
- partially
- halfway
- half
- hardly
- barely
- roughly
- scarcely
- slightly
- approximately
- superficially
- minimally
- somewhat
- incompletely
- part
- marginally
- kind of
6
as in yes
used to express agreement "Are you calling me a liar?" "Exactly." Synonyms & Similar Words
- yes
- yeah
- okay
- alright
- OK
- yep
- positively
- all right
- absolutely
- certainly
- undoubtedly
- ay
- unquestionably
- yo
- indeed
- okeydokey
- yea
- assuredly
- indisputably
- aye
- okeydoke
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- no
- scarcely
- nay
- no way
- scarlet maple
- scarlet mite
- scarlet monkey flower
- scarlet oak
- scarlet ocher
- scarlet pimpernel
- scarlet plume
- scarlet runner bean
- scarlet sage
- scarlet snake
- scarlet strawberry
- scarlet sumac
- scarlet tanager
- scarlet trumpet
- scarlet vermilion
- scarlet-berried elder
- scarlet-day
- scarletberry
- scarleted
- scarleter
- scarletest
- scarleting
- scarletly
- scarlets
- scarletter