Actually

/ˈæk.t͡ʃʊ.ə.li/

Synonyms for "actually" (108 found)

Ranked by relevance and common usage.

Closest matches (22)

Adverb(4 words)
reallyto be preciseat presentcurrently
Adverb(7 words)
above a bitall things consideredby rightcome to think of itde factode jurefact is

Strong matches (32)

factuallyfairlyfor a certaintyfor realforsoothgenuinelyhistoricallyin actualityin all consciencein effectin factin realityin truthin very soothindeedindeedyindubitably
Adverb(10 words)
forsoothfranklyhonestlyin actualityin factin faithin point of factin realityin truthindeed
Adverb(5 words)
franklyin factin practicein realityindeed

Related words (54)

Noun(3 words)
matter of factmore actualmost actual
Determiner(1 words)
most real hardware
Adverb(5 words)
nowadayspracticallyproperly speakingstrictly speakingtruly

Choosing the right synonym

  • Closest matches in this entry: really, to be precise, above a bit, absolutely, all things considered.
  • Sentence evidence is available for actually, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
  • Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, wiktionary, moby, and related lexical sources.

Synonym selection checklist

  • Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
  • Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
  • Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "actually".
  • Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.

When not to replace "actually"

Keep "actually" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.

If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.

Replacement workflow

1. Preserve meaning

Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "actually" intact in the sentence you are editing.

2. Tune tone

Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.

3. Re-read context

Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.

Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.

Final fit check

After choosing a replacement for "actually", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.

If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "actually" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.

Related word relations

OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.

4 relation types

More general

5 entries
adverbdiscourse markerpart of speechpragmatic particlestance marker

More specific

11 entries
attitudinal cuecontrastive adjunctcontrastive cuecorrection markerdiscourse markeremphatic cuenow adverboperational usagereal world usagesentence adverbtime adverb

Collocations

12 entries
actually existingactually foundactually observedactually presentactually significantactually usedcontrastive cuediscourse functiondiscourse markeremphatic expressionpragmatic markerstance marker

Derivations

3 entries

Sample sentences

15 total sentences available.

Tatoeba + Wiktionary

Half an eye is very useful actually, because an animal can see half of another animal, which wants to eat it, and can get out of the way, and it will eat the animal, which has only one-half eye or only 49% of an eye, because this to it will not be enough, and the animal, which was eaten up, will have no children, because it is dead.

Source: tatoeba (1843)

Even if your sentences were actually senseless, you at least have the luck to be able to form beautiful sentences.

Source: tatoeba (2006)

Did you actually see the accident?

Source: tatoeba (16024)

Was the money actually paid?

Source: tatoeba (18589)

Showing 4 of 15 available sentences.

Common questions

What are the closest synonyms for "actually"?

Closest matches include really, to be precise, above a bit, absolutely, all things considered.

How should I check whether a synonym fits "actually"?

Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.

More for "actually"