Exactly

Definition: Exactly

Exactly

Adverb

1. Indicating exactness or preciseness; "he was doing precisely (or exactly) what she had told him to do"; "it was just as he said--the jewel was gone"; "it has just enough salt".

2. Just as it should be; "`Precisely, my lord,' he said".

3. In a precise manner; "she always expressed herself precisely".

Source: WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
 

Date "exactly" was first used in popular English literature: sometime before 1321. (references)

Synonyms: Exactly

Assent

Adverb: yes, yea, ay, aye, true; good; well; very well, very true; well and good; granted; even so, just so; to be sure, "thou hast said", you said it, you said a mouthful; truly, exactly, precisely, that's just it, indeed, certainly, you bet, certes, ex concesso; of course, unquestionably, assuredly, no doubt, doubtless; naturally, natch.

Imitation

Adverb: literally, to the letter, verbatim, literatim, sic, totidem verbis, word for word, mot a mot; exactly, precisely.

Punctuality

Adverb: on time, punctually, at the deadline, precisely, exactly; right on time, to the minute; in time; in good time, in military time, in pudding time, in due time; time enough; with no time to spare, by a hair's breadth.

Quantity

Adverb: to the tune of, all of, a full, the sum of, fully, exactly, precisely.

Truth

Exactly; Adjective: ad amussim; verbatim, verbatim et literatim; word for word, literally, literatim, totidem vervis, sic, to the letter, chapter and verse, ipsissimis verbis; ad unguem; to an inch; to a nicety, to a hair, to a turn, to a T; au pied de la lettre; neither more nor less; in every respect, in all respects; sous tous les rapports; at any rate, at all events; strictly speaking.

Crosswords: Exactly

I don't exactly know what I am required to say in order for you to have intercourse with me. But could we assume that I said all that (A Beautiful Mind; writing credit: Akiva Goldsman)

I'm not exactly sure what it is but I know I didn't always feel this sedated (American Beauty; writing credit: Alan Ball)

Because you have been down there Neo, you know that road, you know exactly where it ends (The Matrix; writing credit: Andy Wachowski; Larry Wachowski)

Things are exactly the way they seem (Moulin Rouge!; writing credit: Baz Luhrmann; Craig Pearce)

And Drumlin told you exactly what you wanted to hear (Contact; writing credit: Carl Sagan;)

What it is ain't exactly clear ("For What It's Worth"; performing artist: Buffalo Springfield)

We could do exactly what you like (Come On Over (All I Want Is You) (Radio Edit); performing artist: Christina Aguilera)

And that's exactly why I'm singing this song to you (Giving Him Something He Can Feel; performing artist: En Vogue)

You were meant to be the way you are exactly. (Stay The Same; performing artist: Joey McIntyre)

Son, let me tell ya now exactly what I mean (Thank God I’m A Country Boy; performing artist: John Denver)

Almost exactly (references; author: unknown)

I haven't lost my mind. I know exactly where I left it. (references; author: unknown)

Teenagers express their burning desires to be different by dressing exactly alike. (references; author: unknown)

If it's true that we are here to help others, then what exactly are the others here for? (references; author: unknown)

The Lodger Who Wasn't Exactly a Paying Guest (1919)

Exactly 3:30 (2003)

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

Books

• Exactly the Opposite (reference)

• Not Exactly the Three Musketeers (reference)

• Sexual Intelligence: Boost Your Sex IQ and Get Exactly What You Want in Bed (reference)

• Something in This Book Is True: The Official Companion to Nothing in This Book Is Ture, but It's Exactly How Things Are (reference)

  (more book examples)

Music

• Exactly Like Us (reference)

• Exactly Like You [LIVE] (reference)

• Exactly What You Think It Is [EXPLICIT LYRICS] (reference)

  (more classical music examples; more popular music examples)

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

The image shows a close-up of a patient's body prior to radiation treatment. A lighted scale is projected onto the body to exactly line up the treatment with the tumor site. Credit: Unknown photographer/artist.

Though the brightest supernova in four centuries lit up the southern sky almost exactly 10 ... Credit: NASA.

A surveyor reads the chart that tells him exactly where the historical dam that is scheduled for removal is located. Credit: NOAA Restoration Center.

The hills are alive with the sounds of pollinating insects, and that's exactly what technicians Rebekah Andrus (left) and Olivia Messinger are netting in a field near the Wellsville Mountains in Utah. P. Credit: USDA ARS News; photo by Jack Dykinga..

Afire after she was hit by a "Kamikaze" in Ormoc Bay, Leyte, on 7 December 1944. She sank later in the day. Exactly three years earlier, on the morning of 7 December 1941, while on patrol off Pearl Harbor, Ward fired the first shot of the Pacific War. Credit: NAVY.

You see? everybody is treated exactly alike. Credit: Library of Congress.

That's it, young fellah, exactly! -- a kind of a thortful, sad look, as if money ... Credit: Library of Congress.

If dreams came true. Oo, Charley! Look! I'm down to exactly a hundred'n thirty-one!. Credit: Library of Congress.

People have become very wise : exactly one year ago they decided to get out of the market. Credit: Library of Congress.

You aren't exactly sparking with orchids, Mr. Sparkman!. Credit: Library of Congress.

Source: pictures compiled by the editor from various references; see picture credits.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

Further, in all matters, the execution of which is entrusted,to these twenty five barons, if perchance these twenty five are present and disagree about anything, or if some of them, after being summoned, are unwilling or unable to be present, that which the majority of those present ordain or command shall be held as fixed and established, exactly as if the whole twenty five had concurred in this; and the said twenty five shall swear that they will faithfully observe all that is aforesaid, and cause it to be observed with all their might. (reference)

The power of assembling and dismissing the legislative, placed in the executive, gives not the executive a superiority over it, but is a fiduciary trust placed in him, for the safety of the people, in a case where the uncertainty and variableness of human affairs could not bear a steady fixed rule: for it not being possible, that the first framers of the government should, by any foresight, be so much masters of future events, as to be able to prefix so just periods of return and duration to the assemblies of the legislative, in all times to come, that might exactly answer all the exigencies of the common- wealth; the best remedy could be found for this defect, was to trust this to the prudence of one who was always to be present, and whose business it was to watch over the public good. (Second Treatise of Government)

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

She was a great talker upon little matters, which exactly suited Mr. Woodhouse, full of trivial communications and harmless gossip

How it happened, Alice never knew, but exactly as she came to the last peg, she was gone

The Phantom was exactly as it had been, but he dreaded that he saw new meaning in its solemn shape

And exactly what is meant by 'suddenly' I don't know because they've apparently been at it for ten years

At times he did not even know exactly what were his feelings

After all Aquinas, in spite of his intellect, was exactly a good round friar

I would exactly set down the several changes in customs, language, fashions of dress, diet and diversions

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

Health

Nor does anyone know exactly what sets the disease in motion. (references)

Take antimalarials exactly on schedule without missing doses. (references)

If you have health insurance, find out exactly what it will cover. (references)

Business

The writing in the second language should exactly correspond to that in Arabic. (references)

This will ensure that products exactly match the vehicle type and the driving conditions for which they are intended. (references)

As has been mentioned, medium size tractors with specifications that exactly fit the job and terrain are most in demand. (references)

Economic History

Cyprus

Bidders on Government contracts are advised to offer products/services that exactly meet tender specifications. (references)

Georgia

Investors also report difficulties in ascertaining exactly what tax rates apply to a given activity and frequent changes to rates and payment instructions. (references)

Australia

The Video Gold Key Service is implemented exactly like the regular Gold Key Service, with the exception that the Australian portion is conducted as a videoconference. (references)

Political Economy

SAUDI ARABIA

When exactly the government intends to open the sector to private investment remains unclear. (references)

Portugal

Antonio Guterres, of the center-left Socialist Party (PS), has been Prime Minister since 1995. From 1995-1999, the Socialists ruled with a minority government, and in the October 1999 elections, won exactly half the 230 seats in Portugal's unicameral legislature. (references)

CANADA

Canada's private copying regime calls for the distribution of a levy on recordable, blank audio media, payable by manufacturers and importers of blank tapes and compact discs, to domestic artists and to artists from countries that have exactly the same levy in place. (references)

Trade

Spain

For agricultural products, import documentation and tariffs are exactly the same as for other EU countries. (references)

Turkey

Bill of Lading: Details in the bill of lading should correspond exactly to those given in other shipping documents. (references)

Eq. Guinea

Shipping marks and numbers on bills of lading should correspond exactly with those on the invoices and on the goods. (references)

Travel

Indonesia

This can make it difficult for a Westerner to ascertain exactly how a business proposal is being received. (references)

Canada

This is not to say, however, that doing business in Canada is exactly the same as doing business in the United States. (references)

Vietnam

If you are unsure of exactly who in the organization you should be meeting with, you should address the request for a meeting to the top official/manager in the organization. (references)

Worker Rights

Poland

As a result, a majority of strikes are technically "illegal" because one or both of the sides do not follow each step exactly as required by law. (references)

Source: compiled by the editor from ICON Group International, Inc.; see credits.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

Expressions using "exactly": copy exactly ♦ exactly at midday ♦ exactly like ♦ exactly so ♦ exactly so! ♦ exactly the same ♦ measure exactly ♦ not exactly. Additional references.

Beginning with "exactly": exactly-so.

Containing "exactly": not-exactly-stunning.

Afrikaans

presies (sharp), net (alone, exclusively, just, just now, okay, only, right, solely). (various references)

Albanian

tamam (due, even, flat, just, just the same, perfectly, precise, precisely, sharp, very), saktësisht (according to cocker, minutely, Pat, precisely, sharp, strictly, to the letter), pikërisht (absolutely, due, just, precise, precisely, sharp, strictly, very, very much so), me përpikëri (promptly), krejtësisht drejt. (various references)

Arabic 

‏حرفيا (literatim, verbally, verbatim), ‏تماما (all, all right, alright, altogether, completely, decidedly, diametrically, enough, entirely, fairly, fully, in full, just, ok, okay, okey, perfectly, plumb, precisely, properly, quite, quite so, right, sharp, simply, smack, so far so good, stark, stock, thoroughly, through and through, totally, utterly, very, well, wholly, wide), ‏على نحو صحيح (accurately, rightly), ‏بالضبط (just so, nicely, precisely, properly, punctually), ‏بدق. (various references)

Bulgarian 

точно така (precisely, quite so), точно (according to cocker, clean, correctly, directly, expressly, just, justly, narrowly, nicely, on schedule, precise, prompt, right, sharp, spang, strictly, textually, true, truly, whang), правилно (aright, correctly, hear! hear, just so, justly, okay, properly, regularly, right, rightly, that's right, true, true enough), именно (precisely, videlicet, viz.), да (and, as to, ay, aye, if, let, shall, that, to, yea, yep, yes, yup). (various references)

Chinese 

确切地 (Exactingly), 整 (complete, entire, in good order, in order, orderly, whole), 恰恰 (just, precisely), 恰 (just), 剛好 (happen to be, just), 剛 (barely, firm, hard, just, strong), 就是 (even, if, in the same way as, just like, precisely), 可不是 (that's just the way it is). (various references)

Croatian

toèno. (various references)

Czech

zrovna (just, only just), přesnì (accurately, bang, clearly, dead, faithfully, just, nicely, on the minute, on time, precisely, quite, rightly, sharp, straight), pøesnì. (various references)

Danish

satellitten kan enten vaere en satellit,der er i kredsloeb omkring jorden,og som passerer henover boreplatformen,eller det kan vaere en synkron satellit;en synkron satellit har noejagtig samme hastighed som jordens omdrejningshastighed,hvorved den synkron (the satellite may be either an orbiting satellite making an overhead pass or it may be a synchronous satellite;the synchronous satellite has a velocity exactly equal to the earth's rotation speed, thus making the synchronous satellite appear motionless in the sky), saa noejagtigt som muligt afspejle vaelgernes oensker i Parlamentet (to reflect as exactly as possible in Parliament the will of the electorate), pladernes linseform skyldes de spaendinger, der opstaar i den omkringliggende grundmasse ligesom ved dannelsen af mekaniske tvillinger (exactly as in the case of mechanical twins, thelenticular form of the plates may be due to the stresses which the transformation produces in the surrounding matrix). (various references)

Dutch

precies (accurate, just, okay, precise, precisely, right, sharp), nauwgezet (accurate, on time, prompt, punctual, sharp), accuraat (accurate, exact, on time, prompt, punctual, sharp). (various references)

Esperanto

ekzakte, precize (precisely, sharp), ĝuste (just, okay, right), akurate (sharp), ƒuste. (various references)

Estonian

täpselt. (various references)

Faeroese

stundisliga (sharp), raðið (sharp), rætt (just, okay, right), nágreiniliga (sharp), júst (just, okay, right), gjølliga (sharp), akkurát (sharp). (various references)

Finnish

tasan (equally, even, evenly, just), tarkalleen (precisely), täsmälleen (precisely, punctually), pilkulleen (to a T), aivan niin (certainly, niinpä niin, quite right, quite so, that's it), aivan (altogether, at all, entirely, fully, just, perfectly, quite, very, wholly). (various references)

French

justement, exactement, précisément. (various references)

French Canadian

précises. (various references)

German

genau (absolute, accurate, accurately, bang, close, closely, correct, correctly, dead, detailed, directly, due, even, exact, exacting, fairly, faithfully, fastidious, fine, finely, intimately, level, meticulous, meticulously, minutely, near, nice, nicely, on time, particular, pedantic, precise, precisely, prompt, properly, punctilious, punctual, quite, right, rigid, scrupulous, sharp, shrewd, smoothly, specific, specifically, Square, squarely, strict, strictly, true, very), ganz (all, all of, at all, bodily, complete, completely, entire, entirely, full, general, in full, intact, integral, just, overall, perfect, pretty, purely, quite, rather, really, reasonably, total, unbroken, unbrokenly, unmitigated, unmitigatedly, utterly, whole, wholly). (various references)

Greek 

ακριβώσ (every bit, precisely, sharp, very), ακριβώς (precisely). (various references)

Hebrew 

בדיוק (precisely, right, sharp). (various references)

Hungarian

pontosan (accurately, dead on, definitely, due, duly, even as, fine, in due course, just, minutely, nicely, on the beam, on the dot, on the minute, on the nose, on time, precisely, prompt, regularly, right, scrupulously, smack in the middle, strictly, that's just it, to spell out, to take key ranges, to the turn of a hair, true). (various references)

Icelandic

nákvæmlega (sharp). (various references)

Indonesian

tepat (accurate, apposite, appropriate, apropos, aptly, convenient, effective, exact, opportune, precise, prompt, right), persis, cukup (adequate, adequately, enough, good-enough, quite, rather, well-to-do). (various references)

Italian

giusto (all right, correct, correctly, done, equitable, exact, fair, just, proper, right, righteous, rightful, sharp, sound, Square, suitable), giustamente (aright, correctly, fairly, justly, right, rightly, sharp), esatto (accurate, attunes, careful, close, correct, definite, exact, express, narrow, near, nice, on time, Plumb, prompt, punctual, right, strict, true, tunes). (various references)

Japanese Kanji 

直 (at once, being straight, cheerfulness, common, correctness, direct, earnestly, frankness, honesty, immediately, in person, just, mischief, near by, night duty, ordinary, simplicity, soon, straight), 恰度 (just, right), 正正と (accurately, neatly, nicely, punctually), 正正 (accurately, neatly, punctually), 正々と (accurately, neatly, nicely, punctually), 正々 (accurately, neatly, punctually), きかん気 (accurately, brisk, clearly, close, creak, daring, distinctly, energetic, intense, lively, perfectly, plainly, precisely, squeak, tight, tightly, unyielding), かさかさ鳴る (burning hotly, clattering, clink, cucumber, flare up, flying into a rage, frozen solid, I wonder, knocking, obstinate, scared stiff, set rock hard, tick-tock, tightly, to crinkle, to grow numb with cold, to make a rustling sound, to rustle, with a click), 丁度　 (just, right), 丁度 (just, right), ぴくぴく動く (banging shut, closely, flat, hopping, lively, neatly, properly, sharp, skipping, slapping, sound of whistling or wheezing, splashing, splatting, sudden but subtle, suddenly, tightly, to jerk, to twitch, to wiggle, whistling of wind), ちゃんこ料理 (Japanese vest, padded sleeveless kimono jacket, perfectly, promptly, properly, regularly, sumo food, sword fight, testicles). (various references)

Japanese Katakana 

きっかり (precisely), きちっと (perfectly), ひた (earnestly, immediately), せいせいと (accurately, neatly, nicely, punctually), せいせい (accurately, create, due west, feel refreshed, feel relieved, form, generate, growing up, lively, neatly, punctually, purification, symmetrical), かっちり (tightly), ぴたりと (closely, suddenly, tightly), ぴったり (neatly, sharp), ちゃんと (perfectly, properly), ちょうど (fixtures, furniture, just, right, supplies). (various references)

Korean 

엄정하게 (Exactingly). (various references)

Luxembourgish

genee. (various references)

Manx

dy kiart (adequately, earnest, in true perspective, just, properly, rightly), dy jeeragh (candidly, directly, forthright, honestly, immediately, justly, precisely, true), dy cruinn (cocker). (various references)

Norwegian

nettopp (just), nøyaktig (exact). (various references)

Pig Latin

exactlyay.(various references)

Polish

właśnie (just, okay, right), właściwie (just, okay, right), dokładnie (sharp). (various references)

Portuguese

exatamente (close, cool, due, even, just, just so, okay, plumb, right, sharp), pontualmente (on time, promptly, punctually, sharp), justamente (even, fairly, just, justly, okay, precisely, right, sharp, tightly). (various references)

Portuguese Brazilian

exatamente. (various references)

Romanian

exact (accurate, accurately, by the square, careful, clean-cut, clipping, clockwork, correct, dead, directly, due, even, exact, faithful, fitting, flat, for all the world, formal, just, just so, narrow, perfect, precise, precisely, proper, punctual, punctually, regular, right, rigorous, scholarly, sharp, slick, straight, strict, strictly, that's the idea, to a day, to a hair's breadth, true, truly, you've hit it), tocmai (directly, even, flat, just, only, precisely, right, very), precis (accurate, accurately, certain, clean-cut, clockwork, dead, decided, decisive, definite, definitely, distinct, due, even, exact, flat, just, literal, narrow, positive, precise, regular, sharp, sound, specifically, straight, strict, truly, unambiguous), hotãrât (adamant, appointed, assertive, categorical, categorically, certain, certainly, dead, decided, definite, definitely, determined, firm, firmly, flat, flatly, forthright, foursquare, game, gritty, hell-bent, manful, pertinacious, plucky, point blank, positively, purposeful, resolute, resolved, resolvedly, set, stalwart, steadfast, sticky, strong-minded, sturdy, sure, surely, trenchant, unfaltering, unflinching, unflinchingly, unhesitatingly, vigorous), drept (as, attribution, claim, correct, Dexter, direct, directly, due, end on, endways, equitable, erect, even, evenly, fair, fairly, for, forthright, honest, just, justice, justly, kind, law, legitimate, patent, permission, plain, point blank, precisely, privilege, real, reasonable, right, right foot, right leg, righteous, Square, stand, stand up, straight, straightforward, true, truly, truthful, unprejudiced, upright), chiar (even, just, right, very), anume (certain, distinct, even, express, intentionally, namely, nominally, special, specially, specifically, viz., with intention), întocmai (certainly, even, every bit, for, precise, precisely, sic, slick). (various references)

Russian 

точно (according to cocker, accurately, definitely, expressly, just, on schedule, precisely, promptly, sharp, sharply, to a dot, to a nicety, to the letter, transparently, truly). (various references)

Serbo-Croatian

tačno (accurately, aright, due to, nearly, notedly, ok, okay, okey, precisely, promptly), ravno (flat, just). (various references)

Slovene

toèno. (various references)

Spanish

justamente (aright, fairly, just, justly, sharp), exactamente (accurately, correctly, just, precisely, punctually, quite, right, strictly, truly), en punto (o'clock, precisely, prompt, sharp). (various references)

Swahili

kamili (absolute, complete, integral). (various references)

Swedish

just (correct, even, exact, fair, just, just now, on the level, right), exakt (accurate, dead, definite, exact, faithful, flat, just, precise, precisely, slap bang, veracious, very). (various references)

Thai

อย่างถูกต้อง (aright, rightly). (various references)

Turkish

tam (absolute, accomplished, according to cocker, accurate, all out, at the time, bang, bang on, blank, clear, complete, consummate, correct, dead, desperately, downright, due, engrained, entire, even, exact, factual, full, full complement, fully, holo-, implicit, ingrained, intact, integral, intimate, just, literal, mathematical, on time, out and out, outright, overall, perfect, plenary, Plumb, plunk, precise, precisely, prize, prompt, proper, punctual, rank, right, rightdown, root and branch, round, sharp, sheer, simple, slap bang, slick, solid, spot-on, Square, stark, straight, strict, the very, thorough, thoroughgoing, to a t, true, trueborn, unalloyed, unambiguous, unmitigated, unredeemed, unreserved, utter, very, whole). (various references)

Turkmen 

edil, nokatma-nokat, gyradeс. (various references)

Ukrainian

якраз (even, even as, full, nicely, right, slap), саме (bang, even, full, self), точно (accurately, cold, dead, definitely, due, explicitly, fair, faithfully, flush, just, microscopically, minutely, precisely, prompt, punctually, sharp, to a turn, true, truly). (various references)

Vietnamese 

chính xác (accurate, breadth, exact, precision, specifically, strict, stringent, truthful, unerring), đúng đắn đúng như thế. (various references)

vere, verene. (various references)

hamatha. (various references)

Derivations

Words ending with "exactly": inexactly. (additional references)

Misspellings

"Exactly" is suggested in spellcheckers for the following: eaxctly, ecxactly, exactally, exactaly, exactley, exactlly, exacty, exacyly, exakly, exectly, extactly, xactly. (additional references)

Source: compiled by the editor (additional references); see credits.

Scrabble® Enable2K-Verified Anagrams

-1 letter: acetyl.

-2 letters: calyx, cleat, eclat, exact, exalt, lacey, latex, lycea.

-3 letters: acyl, alec, axel, axle, calx, cate, celt, clay, lace, lacy, late, tace, tael, talc, tale, teal, tela.

-4 letters: ace, act, ale, alt, ate, axe, aye, cat, cay, cel, eat, eta, lac, lat, lax, lay, lea, let, lex, ley, lye, tae, tax, tea, tel.

+1 letter: acetoxyl.

+2 letters: acetoxyls, cataplexy, exultancy, inexactly.

+3 letters: exactingly, exotically, expectably, lexicality.

+4 letters: carboxylate, exclamatory, exculpatory, expectantly, explicatory.

+5 letters: carboxylated, carboxylates, contextually, excitability, exoterically, extractively, inextricably, oxyacetylene.