actually
adverb
ac·tu·al·ly ˈak-ch(ə-w)ə-lē 
-sh(ə-w)ə-lē;
ˈaksh-lē,
ˈaks-
1
: in act or in fact : really
trying to find out what actually happened
won't actually arrive for an hour
2
: in point of fact —used to suggest something unexpected
was surprised to learn that she could actually speak German
Synonyms
- admittedly
- forsooth
- frankly
- honestly
- indeed
- really
- truly
- truthfully
- verily
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
actually, I'd rather spend the evening at home I call her Aunt Emily, but she is actually my cousin, not my aunt.
Recent Examples on the Web Martin Amis makes a case for why the queen’s character, more often associated with aloofness than congeniality, was actually a lifelong calculation based on her responsibility as sovereign. 
Alison Fishburn, Longreads, 17 Sep. 2022 According to the Modern Dog Magazine, dogs actually have a sense of pitch. Jacob Livesay, USA TODAY, 16 Sep. 2022 Dear Not Gifted: Your boyfriend is actually good at remembering dates. Amy Dickinson, Chicago Tribune, 14 Sep. 2022 Not Gifted: Your boyfriend is actually good at remembering dates. Amy Dickinson, Washington Post, 14 Sep. 2022 Your boyfriend is actually good at remembering dates. Amy Dickinson, BostonGlobe.com, 14 Sep. 2022 Dear Not Gifted: Your boyfriend is actually good at remembering dates. Amy Dickinson, cleveland, 14 Sep. 2022 These desserts have no gluten, no cholesterol, and actually have a pretty big protein bump from the chickpeas that are included. Elizabeth Berry, Woman's Day, 13 Sep. 2022 But there are concerns about whether these additions are actually good for us. Deborah Treisman, The New Yorker, 12 Sep. 2022 See More
Alison Fishburn, Longreads, 17 Sep. 2022 According to the Modern Dog Magazine, dogs actually have a sense of pitch. Jacob Livesay, USA TODAY, 16 Sep. 2022 Dear Not Gifted: Your boyfriend is actually good at remembering dates. Amy Dickinson, Chicago Tribune, 14 Sep. 2022 Not Gifted: Your boyfriend is actually good at remembering dates. Amy Dickinson, Washington Post, 14 Sep. 2022 Your boyfriend is actually good at remembering dates. Amy Dickinson, BostonGlobe.com, 14 Sep. 2022 Dear Not Gifted: Your boyfriend is actually good at remembering dates. Amy Dickinson, cleveland, 14 Sep. 2022 These desserts have no gluten, no cholesterol, and actually have a pretty big protein bump from the chickpeas that are included. Elizabeth Berry, Woman's Day, 13 Sep. 2022 But there are concerns about whether these additions are actually good for us. Deborah Treisman, The New Yorker, 12 Sep. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English actuelly, from actuel, actual actual + -ly -ly entry 2
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
actually
adverb
ac·tu·al·ly ˈak-chə-wə-lē
: in fact : really
It's not a lie. It actually happened.
actually
adverb
1
as in honestly
to tell the truth actually, I'd rather spend the evening at home Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- honestly
- really
- frankly
- indeed
- certainly
- truly
- truthfully
- admittedly
- absolutely
- in fact
- undoubtedly
- to be sure
- positively
- in reality
- in actuality
- in truth
- verily
- realistically
- unquestionably
- forsooth
- as a matter of fact
- indisputably
- indubitably
- in point of fact
- 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
- authentically
- literally
- exactly
- almost
- practically
- veritably
- in actuality
- in reality
- in truth
- accurately
- certifiably
- precisely
- nearly
- positively
- virtually
- squarely
- sharp
- right
- smack-dab
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- supposedly
- apparently
- seemingly
- ostensibly
- outwardly
- professedly
- plausibly