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1
used to emphasize a fact or the truth of a situation
- Many people assumed she was the manager, but, actually, she's a senior consultant.
- It may sound like a cliché, but, actually, dreams can influence our emotions and thoughts.
- She claimed to have visited many countries, and actually, she's been to every continent.
- The old building, believed to be abandoned, is actually a thriving art studio.
Synonyms:
2
used to show surprise when someone says something that is not true
- It's not a diamond ring, actually.
- Actually, I was born in California.
- Actually, the small town I live in is quite famous for its annual music festival.
- Actually, despite what you might think, I’m an excellent chess player.
- Actually, our quiet neighbor is a renowned author under a pen name.
Synonyms:
3
as a sentence modifier to add slight emphasis
4
at the present moment