actually, in reality
(adverb) 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”
actually, really
(adverb) in actual fact; “to be nominally but not actually independent”; “no one actually saw the shark”; “large meteorites actually come from the asteroid belt”
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”
actually
(adverb) at the present moment; “the transmission screen shows the picture that is actually on the air”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
actually (not comparable)
(modal) In act or in fact; really; in truth; positively.
(obsolete) Actively.
• In other European languages, cognates of actually mean "now" or "currently"; (e.g, Portuguese "atualmente", Spanish "actualmente", French "actuellement", German "aktuell", Italian "attualmente", Czech "aktuálnÄ›"), making it a false friend. This leads many non-native speakers of English to use "actually" when they mean "now" or "currently".
• Some commentators have
• remarked upon the irony that this qualifier of veracity often introduces an utter lie; and,
• noted that in many cases, actually functions as little more than a vacuous emphatic utterance.
• In practice, actually and its synonyms are often used to insinuate that the following is either unusual or contrary to a norm or preceding assumption, or to merely preface an overconfident opinion contrasting a previous statement or norm (as per 'vacuous emphasis' note above).
This is actually a really beautiful song. (contrasting opinion)
Actually, I'm not from France – I'm from Switzerland. (contrary from assumption)
At the check-out, the cashier actually greeted me for once. (contrary from norm)
• (in act or in fact): as a matter of fact, in reality, literally, really, truthfully; see also actually
Source: Wiktionary
Ac"tu*al*ly, adv.
1. Actively. [Obs.] "Neither actually . . . nor passively." Fuller.
2. In act or in fact; really; in truth; positively.
Ac"tu*al (#; 135), a. Etym: [OE. actuel, F. actuel, L. actualis, fr. agere to do, act.]
1. Involving or comprising action; active. [Obs.] Her walking and other actual performances. Shak. Let your holy and pious intention be actual; that is . . . by a special prayer or action, . . . given to God. Jer. Taylor.
2. Existing in act or reality; really acted or acting; in fact; real;
– opposed to potential, possible, virtual, speculative, coceivable, theoretical, or nominal; as, the actual cost of goods; the actual case under discussion.
3. In action at the time being; now exiting; present; as the actual situation of the country. Actual cautery. See under Cautery.
– Actual sin (Theol.), that kind of sin which is done by ourselves in contradistinction to "original sin."
Syn.
– Real; genuine; positive; certain. See Real.
Ac"tu*al, n. (Finance)
Definition: Something actually received; real, as distinct from estimated, receipts. [Cant] The accounts of revenues supplied . . . were not real receipts: not, in financial language, "actuals," but only Egyptian budget estimates. Fortnightly Review.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
9 May 2025
(noun) anything in accord with principles of justice; “he feels he is in the right”; “the rightfulness of his claim”
Espresso is both a coffee beverage and a brewing method that originated in Italy. When making an espresso, a small amount of nearly boiling water under pressure forces through finely-ground coffee beans. It has more caffeine per unit volume than most coffee beverages. Its smaller serving size will take three shots to equal a mug of standard brewed coffee.
