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Exactly vs Certainly - What's the difference?

exactly | certainly |

As adverbs the difference between exactly and certainly

is that exactly is without approximation; precisely while certainly is in a way which is certain; with certainty.

As an interjection exactly

is Signifies agreement or recognition

exactly

English

Adverb

(en adverb)
  • (manner) without approximation; precisely.
  • Measure exactly so we can be sure it is right.
    The edge is not exactly straight.
  • (focus) Used to provide emphasis.
  • It was exactly an Eastern gray squirrel.
    He divided the coins exactly in half.
    He did it that way exactly to prove the point.
    His complaint was exactly that she failed to meet the deadline by four days.

    Antonyms

    * approximately

    Interjection

    (en interjection)
  • (Signifies agreement or recognition)
  • So you're saying that we have only three days left? / Yes, exactly !

    certainly

    English

    Adverb

    (en adverb)
  • In a way which is certain; with certainty.
  • *, I.iii.2.2:
  • *:he verily thought he had young live frogs in his belly, qui vivebant ex alimento suo , that lived by his nourishment, and was so certainly persuaded of it, that for many years following he could not be rectified in his conceit.
  • Without doubt, surely.
  • :
  • :
  • :
  • *
  • *:So this was my future home, I thought! Certainly it made a brave picture. I had seen similar ones fired-in on many a Heidelberg stein. Backed by towering hills,a sky of palest Gobelin flecked with fat, fleecy little clouds, it in truth looked a dear little city; the city of one's dreams.
  • *{{quote-magazine, date=2013-06-07, author=(Gary Younge)
  • , volume=188, issue=26, page=18, magazine=(The Guardian Weekly) , title= Hypocrisy lies at heart of Manning prosecution , passage=WikiLeaks did not cause these uprisings but it certainly informed them. The dispatches revealed details of corruption and kleptocracy that many Tunisians suspected, but could not prove, and would cite as they took to the streets.}}
  • An emphatic affirmative answer; of course.
  • :
  • Synonyms

    * absolutely, beyond doubt, indubitably, sure thing, undoubtedly, wis, without a doubt

    Coordinate terms

    * maybe, possibly, arguably, questionably, probably, perhaps

    Derived terms

    * most certainly

    References

    * *