ACTUALLY

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

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Etymology

Adverb

actually (not comparable)

(modal) In act or in fact; really; in truth; positively.

(obsolete) Actively.

Usage notes

• In other European languages, cognates of actually mean "now" or "currently"; (e.g, Portuguese "atualmente", Spanish "actualmente", French "actuellement", German "aktuell", Italian "attualmente", Czech "aktuálně"), 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)

Synonyms

• (in act or in fact): as a matter of fact, in reality, literally, really, truthfully; see also actually

Source: Wiktionary

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Ac"tu*al*ly, adv.

1. Actively. [Obs.] "Neither actually . . . nor passively." Fuller.

2. In act or in fact; really; in truth; positively.

ACTUAL

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

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