actually

adverb

ac·tu·al·ly ˈak-ch(ə-w)ə-lē

-sh(ə-w)ə-lē;

ˈaksh-lē,

ˈaks-

Synonyms of actually next

: in act or in fact : really

trying to find out what actually happened

won't actually arrive for an hour

: in point of fact

—used to suggest something unexpected

was surprised to learn that she could actually speak German

Examples of actually in a Sentence

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

In the long run, has To Catch a Predator actually done more harm than good? —

David Fear, Rolling Stone, 27 Jan. 2025 The gown includes a black thong that buttons to the front of the dress, keeping the precarious-seeming drape actually quite secure. —

Aamina Inayat Khan, StyleCaster, 27 Jan. 2025 However, the variety of architecture within the famed eastern Long Island towns actually ranges from English Country manor houses and Neoclassical mansions to Colonial Revival estates and sleek contemporary dwellings. —

Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 27 Jan. 2025 The Fed's concerns of inflation still being higher than expected combined with a jump of Treasury yields actually caused mortgage interest rates to jump in recent weeks, not go lower. —

Joel Thayer, Newsweek, 27 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for actually