actually

views updated

ac·tu·al·ly / ˈakchoōəlē/ • adv. 1. as the truth or facts of a situation; really: the time actually worked on a job.2. used to emphasize that something someone has said or done is surprising: he actually expected me to be pleased about it! ∎  used when expressing an opinion, typically one that is not expected: “Actually,” she said icily, “I don't care who you go out with.” ∎  used when expressing a contradictory opinion or correcting someone: “Tom seems to be happy.” “He isn't, actually, not any more.” ∎  used to introduce a new topic or to add information to a previous statement: he had a Brooklyn accent—he sounded like my grandfather actually.

More From encyclopedia.com