actually
1. [ adverb ] in actual fact
Synonyms: really
Examples:

"to be nominally but not actually independent" "no one actually saw the shark" "large meteorites actually come from the asteroid belt"

Related terms: real actual real actual
2. [ adverb ] used to imply that one would expect the fact to be the opposite of that stated; surprisingly
Synonyms: in_reality
Examples:

"you may actually be doing the right thing by walking out" "she actually spoke Latin" "people who seem stand-offish are in reality often simply nervous"

3. [ adverb ] at the present moment
Examples:

"the transmission screen shows the picture that is actually on the air"

4. [ adverb ] as a sentence modifier to add slight emphasis
Examples:

"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"

Similar spelling:   actual
  acetal
  actuality
  acaudal
  acutely
  actualize
  actualise
  acetaldol
  acetyl
  actualized
  actualised
  actual_sin
  acquittal
  acatalectic