What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Exactly vs Namely - What's the difference?

exactly | namely |

As adverbs the difference between exactly and namely

is that exactly is without approximation; precisely while namely is especially, above all.

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 !

    namely

    English

    Adverb

    (-)
  • Especially, above all.
  • *:
  • *:THus was sir Tramtryst longe there wel cherysshed / with the kynge and the quene / and namely with la beale Isoud / So vpon a daye / the quene and la beale Isoud made a bayne for syre Tramtryst / And whan he was in his bayne / the quene and Isoud her doughter romed vp & doune in the chamber
  • Specifically; that is to say.
  • :
  • :
  • *{{quote-book, year=1905, author=
    • , title= , chapter=1 citation , passage=“The story of this adoption is, of course, the pivot round which all the circumstances of the mysterious tragedy revolved. Mrs. Yule had an only son, namely , William, to whom she was passionately attached ; but, like many a fond mother, she had the desire of mapping out that son's future entirely according to her own ideas.

    Usage notes

    A synonymous expression is the use of colon—":", as in "There are three ways to do it: the right way, the wrong way." Considered a dependent clause, a comma' should follow the expression and either a '''semicolon''' or ' comma should precede it, depending on the strength of the break in continuity. "Namely" can thus almost be considered a conjunction.

    Anagrams

    * *