Meaning of actually In English

• 0 in fact or really:

  • I didn't actually see her - I just heard her voice.

  • So what actually happened?

• 1 used in sentences in which there is information that is in some way surprising or the opposite of what most people would expect:

  • I didn't like him at first, but in the end I actually got quite fond of him.

  • I'm one of the few people who doesn't actually like champagne.

  • humorous Don't tell me he actually paid for you!

• 2 used as a way of making a sentence slightly more polite, for example when you are expressing an opposing opinion, correcting what someone else has said, or refusing an offer:

  • "Alexander looks like he'd be good at sports." "Actually, he's not."

  • Actually, Gavin, it was Tuesday of last week, not Wednesday.

  • "Do you mind if I smoke?" "Well, actually, I'd rather you didn't."

• 3 used to say that something is true, esp. when the true situation may not be known:

  • We actually had a hard time moving the sofa.

  • He actually expected me to pay for his dinner.