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
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
For example, the algorithms behind the social media app are usually designed to keep you on the app longer, not to show you things that actually matter to you intellectually.
—
John Werner, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2025
Lao Cha, a janitor, finds companionship in a stray cat and befriends a woman named Li in a virtual world, only to discover that Li is actually a 10-year-old boy.
—Jamie Lang, Variety, 17 Mar. 2025
Given how she’s responded to bad stretches in the past, perhaps the loss is actually a good sign for her team’s prospects in the N.C.A.A. tournament.
—Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 16 Mar. 2025
People are actually looking for some sort of plan or program or some vision that comes after.
—Mark Davis, Newsweek, 16 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for actually
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John Werner, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2025
Lao Cha, a janitor, finds companionship in a stray cat and befriends a woman named Li in a virtual world, only to discover that Li is actually a 10-year-old boy.
—Jamie Lang, Variety, 17 Mar. 2025
Given how she’s responded to bad stretches in the past, perhaps the loss is actually a good sign for her team’s prospects in the N.C.A.A. tournament.
—Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 16 Mar. 2025
People are actually looking for some sort of plan or program or some vision that comes after.
—Mark Davis, Newsweek, 16 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for actually
Cite this Entry
“Actually.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/actually. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
actually
adverb
ac·tu·al·ly
ˈak-ch(ə-w)ə-lē
ˈak-sh(ə-w)ə-lē
: in fact or in truth : really
she actually spoke Spanish
actually, I didn't want to go
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