actually Meaning, Definition & Usage

adverb in actual fact
really.
- to be nominally but not actually independent
- no one actually saw the shark
- large meteorites actually come from the asteroid belt
adverb used to imply that one would expect the fact to be the opposite of that stated; surprisingly
in reality.
- you may actually be doing the right thing by walking out
- she actually spoke Latin
- they thought they made the rules but in reality they were only puppets
- people who seem stand-offish are in reality often simply nervous
adverb at the present moment
- the transmission screen shows the picture that is actually on the air
adverb as a sentence modifier to add slight emphasis
- actually, we all help clear up after a meal
- actually, I haven't seen the film
- I'm not all that surprised actually
- she hasn't proved to be too satisfactory, actually