# actually

/ˈækˌtʃuəɫi/ (US) · /ˈæktʃuːəli/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/actually
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. in fact or reality

adverb · CEFR A2

used to emphasize that something is true, especially if it is surprising.

For teachers: used to stress the factual truth of a statement, frequently to correct a misconception or highlight an unexpected reality.

- I thought the movie would be boring, but it was actually quite good.
- While many assumed the project had been cancelled, the team was actually working on a revised version in secret.

Usage: Often placed at the beginning of a sentence for emphasis or before the main verb.

### 2. correcting someone politely

adverb · CEFR B1

you use this when you want to correct someone in a gentle way.

For teachers: serves as a pragmatic marker to introduce a correction or a differing opinion with a degree of politeness or hesitation.

- Actually, the meeting is at three o'clock, not two.
- Actually, if we look at the data again, we might find that the initial conclusions were somewhat premature.

Usage: Commonly used as a sentence starter in spoken English to soften a correction.

### 3. expressing surprise

adverb · CEFR B2

used to show that you are surprised that something happened.

For teachers: used to express surprise or to indicate that something is more impressive or extreme than expected.

- Did he actually finish that giant pizza all by himself?
- It is remarkable that they actually managed to secure the funding despite the economic downturn.

Teaching tip: In this sense, the word is often stressed in speech to convey disbelief or amazement.

## Examples

- I thought he was mean, but he is actually very kind.
- Many people believe the store is closed on Sundays, but it is actually open until noon.
- While the initial reports suggested a total failure, the data actually indicates that the experiment succeeded in several key areas that were previously overlooked.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.