actually

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
    

• at the present moment
  • the transmission screen shows the picture that is actually on the air
    

• used to imply that one would expect the fact to be the opposite of that stated; surprisingly
  • 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
    

• in actual fact
  • to be nominally but not actually independent
    
  • no one actually saw the shark
    
  • large meteorites actually come from the asteroid belt
    

Related words

• Synonyms: 
  in reality , really