Collocations for "exactly"
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word "exactly" in context.
WordReference English Collocations © 2026
exactly
ⓘMost examples are given in US English. We have labeled exceptions as UK.adv
- I'm not exactly sure
- not sure what he [means, is saying], exactly
- What exactly are you [saying, trying to say]?
- Where are we going, exactly?
- What are you [saying, doing], exactly?
- Who are you, exactly?
- Who did you say you are, exactly?
- Exactly who are you?
- Exactly how do you [expect, think]...?
- Exactly how do we [finish, get there]?
- that's exactly what I'm saying!
- that's exactly what I [said, thought, mean]!
- that's exactly why [I didn't, they couldn't, she won't]
- this is exactly like the time that we
- [you are, that is] exactly right!
- yes, exactly
- yes, that's exactly [it, the problem]
- no, not exactly
- they are exactly the same!
- are exactly the same [size, color, shape]
- that is exactly the opposite of what I [wanted, said]
- this is exactly the kind of thing I mean
- [came, was] exactly as described
- everything is going exactly as [planned, expected]
- [costs, is worth] exactly [$50]
- do exactly as I [say, instruct]
- I need exactly [one]
- I will give you exactly one [minute, chance] (to)
- exactly [one year] [ago, earlier, from now]
- [occurred, took place, happened] exactly [a year to the day]
- [measured, calculated] exactly
'exactly' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
amount
- resemble
- translate
- he
- I
- same
- list
- science
- schedule
- opposite
- what
- sure
- genre
- domain
- recipe
- saint
- sentiment
- blueprint
- fourth
- guideline
- procedure
- propose
- conform
- correspond
- trustworthy
- becoming
- enchanted
- pin
- determine
- sixteen
- seventeen
- sixty
- seventy
- ingredient
- plausible
- envision
- illustrate
- nope