not exactly
idiom
informal
1
—used in speech as a mild way of saying "no" especially to indicate that what someone has said is not completely correct or true
"He's your boss, isn't he?" "Not exactly."
"Did everything go the way you planned it?" "Not exactly."
2
—used as a humorous or ironic way to say "not"
He's not exactly the smartest guy I've ever met.
Examples of not exactly in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Although many fans were thrilled by receiving answers from the coy artist, many also joked about how the admission was not exactly a surprise.
—
Regina Cho, VIBE.com, 26 Feb. 2025
The first-round picks are not exactly three first-round picks.
—Zach Harper, The Athletic, 3 Feb. 2025
Some of the ways MAHA wants to go about that, such as pressuring food companies to not use seed oils, are not exactly scientific; others do have some research behind them.
—Nicholas Florko, The Atlantic, 1 Feb. 2025
That’s not exactly a meeting something an outsider might think the 13-0-1 Wolverines – one of four still unbeaten in the state – would need.
—Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 1 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for not exactly
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Regina Cho, VIBE.com, 26 Feb. 2025
The first-round picks are not exactly three first-round picks.
—Zach Harper, The Athletic, 3 Feb. 2025
Some of the ways MAHA wants to go about that, such as pressuring food companies to not use seed oils, are not exactly scientific; others do have some research behind them.
—Nicholas Florko, The Atlantic, 1 Feb. 2025
That’s not exactly a meeting something an outsider might think the 13-0-1 Wolverines – one of four still unbeaten in the state – would need.
—Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 1 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for not exactly
Cite this Entry
“Not exactly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/not%20exactly. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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