actually

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Pronunciation 1.3 Adverb 1.3.1 Usage notes 1.3.2 Synonyms 1.3.3 Translations 1.3.4 References

[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

actual (“‘real, true, veritable’”) + -ly

[edit] Pronunciation

• (WEAE) IPA: /ˈæk.tʃu.ə.li/
•  Audio (US)^{help, file}

[edit] Adverb

actually (not comparable)

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

   Actually, I had nothing to do with that incident.

[edit] Usage notes

• In some other languages a word of similar spelling means "now" or "currently"; (e.g., Spanish "actualmente", French "actuellement", German "aktuell", Czech "aktuálně"). This leads many non-native speakers of English to use "actually" when they mean "now".
• Some commentators have:
  1. remarked upon the irony that this qualifier of veracity often introduces an utter lie;^[1] and,
  2. noted that in many cases, actually functions as little more than a vacuous emphatic utterance.^[2]
• In practice, actually and its synonyms are often used to preface an opinion rather than a fact (as per 'vacuous emphasis' note above).

This is actually a really beautiful song.

[edit] Synonyms

• in reality
• literally
• really
• truthfully

[edit] Translations

[edit] References

• Notes:

1. ^ “She Literally Exploded : The Daily Telegraph Infuriating Phrasebook”, Christopher Howse and Richard Preston (Constable‧London, 2007; ISBN 978‒1‒84529‒675‒9), page 3
2. ^ ibidem, page 4