Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Precise, accurate: Characterized by perfect conformity to fact, truth, or a standard; strictly correct.
   • Demanding strict attention to details: Requiring or characterized by meticulous accuracy and thoroughness.

2. Verb:

   • To demand and obtain something, especially a payment: To force the payment, giving, or performance of something.
   • To inflict (revenge, punishment): To inflict something, such as revenge, upon someone.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • The witness gave an exact description of the suspect.
  • Please provide the exact measurements for the window frame.
  • He is known for his exact memory of historical dates.

• Verb:

  • The dictator exacted heavy taxes from the population.
  • The contract exacts a penalty for late delivery.
  • She vowed to exact revenge for the betrayal.

Advanced Usage

• "to be exact": Used to introduce a precise detail or correction.

  • The journey took three hours and twenty-seven minutes, to be exact.

• "exact a toll": To demand a severe cost or consequence (often figurative).

  • The years of stress exacted a heavy toll on his health.

Variants and Related Words

• Exacting (adj): Making great demands on one's skill, attention, or patience; rigorous.
  • The exacting standards of the master chef.
• Exaction (n): The action of demanding and obtaining something from someone, especially a payment.
  • The exaction of tribute from conquered territories.
• Exactitude (n): The quality of being exact; accuracy.
  • The plan was executed with mathematical exactitude.

Synonyms

• Adjective: Precise, accurate, correct, faithful, literal, strict.
• Verb: Demand, require, compel, extort, impose, levy.

Related Phrasal Verbs

(Note: "Exact" is not commonly used in phrasal verb constructions. Its verbal meaning is typically used transitively.)

Related Idioms

• Exact science: A field of study where results can be precisely measured and laws reliably reproduced.
  • Cooking is not an exact science; sometimes you have to adjust the recipe.
• Exact change: The precise amount of money required, with no need for giving change back.
  • The vending machine requires exact change.

Adjective

1. (of ideas, images, representations, expressions) characterized by perfect conformity to fact or truth; strictly correct
   • a precise image
   • a precise measurement
2. marked by strict and particular and complete accordance with fact
   • an exact mind
   • an exact copy
   • hit the exact center of the target

Verb

1. take as an undesirable consequence of some event or state of affairs
   • the accident claimed three lives
   • The hard work took its toll on her
2. claim as due or just
   • The bank demanded payment of the loan