ex ‧ act ‧ ly S1 W2 /ɪɡˈzæktli/ BrE AmE adverb
1 . used when emphasizing that something is no more and no less than a number or amount, or is completely correct in every detail:
It’s exactly half past five.
The figures may not be exactly right, but they’re close enough.
exactly where/what/when etc
I can’t remember exactly what she said.
It’s a tragic situation and no one will ever know exactly what happened.
why/what/where etc exactly ...?
Where exactly did you stay in Portugal?
2 . used to emphasize that something is the same or different SYN precisely :
That’s exactly what we’ve been trying to tell you.
It’s exactly the kind of work I’ve been looking for.
She tries to be exactly like her older sister.
Kevin’s teachers saw him as quiet and serious, but with his friends he was exactly the opposite.
The two candidates responded to the question in exactly the same way.
3 . not exactly spoken
a) used as a reply to show that what someone has said is not completely correct or true:
‘You hate Lee, don’t you?’ ‘Not exactly. I just think he’s a bit annoying, that’s all.’
b) used to show that you mean the complete opposite, either humorously, or when you are annoyed SYN hardly :
I wouldn’t bother asking Dave – he’s not exactly Einstein (=he is stupid) .
4 . spoken used as a reply to show that you think what someone has said is completely correct or true:
‘So you think we should sell the house?’ ‘Exactly.’
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THESAURUS
▪ exactly used when emphasizing that something is no more and no less than a number or amount, or is completely correct in every detail:
The bill came to exactly $1,000.
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Police are still trying to find out exactly how the accident happened.
▪ precisely exactly – used when it is important to be sure that something is completely correct in every detail:
We need to know precisely how much this is going to cost.
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Can you tell us precisely where he is?
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What precisely do you mean by ‘relativity’?
▪ just especially spoken exactly – used especially when saying that things are exactly right, exactly the same, or exactly in a particular position:
The frame is just the right size for the picture.
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He and his brother are just the same.
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The hotel is just next to the station.
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A new handbag! That’s just what I wanted.
▪ right exactly in a particular position or direction:
The ball hit me right in the eye!
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There’s the house, right in front of you.
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I got a mosquito bite right on the end of my nose.
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He sat down right beside her.
▪ directly exactly in a particular position or direction Directly is more formal than right :
Amy was sitting directly opposite me.
▪ on the dot informal at exactly a particular time, and no earlier or later than that time:
She always leaves the office at 5.30 p.m. on the dot.
▪ bang British English informal exactly – used especially in the following very informal expressions:
The train was bang on time.
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The shot was bang on target.
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Cockatoo Island is right bang in the middle of Sydney harbour.