Menu
Find words

actually

/ˈæk.t͡ʃ(u.)(ə.)li/
adverbinterjection

ACTUALLY meaning: “in fact” or “really”; it scores 13 Scrabble points, has no anagrams, and ends in a familiar rhyme.

NWL Collins ENABLE

Adverb 2 meanings

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

    “His promises did not correspond with what he actually did.”

  2. Currently; at the time.

Interjection 1 meaning

  1. Indicating affirmation, agreement.

    “A: That was a pretty good movie.”

Definitions: Wiktionary (CC BY-SA) via Kaikki/Wiktextract

Where it comes from

Etymology

From Middle English actually, actuelly, equivalent to actual + -ly.

Similar and opposite words

Similar
certainlydefinitelyforsoothfranklyhonestlyindubitablyindeedlegitimately
Opposite
figurativelymetaphoricallyostensiblyvirtually

ACTUALLY is an eight-letter adverb used to correct a claim, stress that something is true, or add emphatic agreement. That range explains why the same word can sound like a factual correction (“Actually, the door is locked”) or an affirmative reply (“I actually agree”). Despite its familiar spelling, ACTUALLY has no anagrams and no one-letter neighbours.

ACTUALLY at a glance

  • ACTUALLY has eight letters and scores 13 Scrabble points.
  • Its tile values are A (1), C (3), T (1), U (1), A (1), L (1), L (1), and Y (4).
  • No anagrams or one-letter neighbours are recorded for ACTUALLY.
  • Twelve words rhyme with ACTUALLY through its final LLY sound, including REALLY and TOTALLY.

What does ACTUALLY mean?

ACTUALLY means “in fact,” “really,” or “in truth.” Use it to correct an assumption: “Actually, the key is on the table” says the key is there despite what someone thought. The word can also add force to a statement, as in “I actually enjoyed the ending.”

A second sense is “currently” or “at the time,” while a reply of “Actually” can signal affirmation or agreement. Tone matters: at the start of a correction, the word can sound pointed; in a reply, it can simply confirm what another person said. The spelling stays ACTUALLY in each use.

Why does ACTUALLY score 13 Scrabble points?

ACTUALLY scores 13 points from A (1), C (3), T (1), U (1), A (1), L (1), L (1), and Y (4). C and Y supply seven points together; the other six tiles supply the remaining six. The final Y is the largest single tile value in the word, with C next.

On a plain board, count each letter once; a premium square changes the turn’s value, not the word’s printed 13-point face value. ACTUALLY’s familiar meaning does not produce alternate plays from its letters: it has no anagrams or one-letter neighbours. For sound clues, focus instead on the LLY ending; REALLY and FINALLY are among its rhymes.

For a quick score check, look at the Y first: its four points exceed every other tile value in ACTUALLY. The C adds three, and each remaining tile adds one.

Rhymes with actually

All rhymes

Questions people ask

Is ACTUALLY a valid Scrabble word?
ACTUALLY is an ordinary English adverb, but confirm your app’s dictionary before a challenge. It means “in fact” or “really,” and its familiar everyday use does not by itself guarantee acceptance in every game’s word list. Its tile value is 13 points.
How many anagrams does ACTUALLY have?
ACTUALLY has no anagrams. Its letters are A, A, C, L, L, T, U, and Y; they do not form another word in the checked word lists. REALLY and TOTALLY are rhymes, not rearrangements of those letters.
Which letters give ACTUALLY its Scrabble points?
The C and Y contribute the most to ACTUALLY’s 13-point score. C is worth three points and Y is worth four; the two A tiles, T, U, and two L tiles are worth one point apiece. Together, those tile values total 13.

Keep going