Used as sentence modifier to indicate that it is of interest, or contrary to what one might think.
In reality, as opposed to possibly, potentially, theoretically, apparently, imaginably, etc.
as a sentence modifier to add slight emphasis; "actually, we all help clear up after a meal"; "actually, I haven't seen the film"; "I'm not all that surprised actually"; "she hasn't proved to be too satisfactory, actually"
at the present moment; "the transmission screen shows the picture that is actually on the air"
used to imply that one would expect the fact to be the opposite of that stated; surprisingly; "you may actually be doing the right thing by walking out"; "she actually spoke Latin"; "they thought they made the rules but in reality they were only puppets"; "people who seem stand-offish are in reality often simply nervous"
in actual fact; "to be nominally but not actually independent"; "no one actually saw the shark"; "large meteorites actually come from the asteroid belt"
used to imply that one would expect the fact to be the opposite of that stated; surprisingly; "you may actually be doing the right thing by walking out"; "she actually spoke Latin"; "they thought they made the rules but in reality they were only puppets";
as a sentence modifier to add slight emphasis; "actually, we all help clear up after a meal"; "actually, I haven''t seen the film"; "I''m not all that surprised actually"; "she hasn''t proved to be too satisfactory, actually"
used to imply that one would expect the fact to be the opposite of that stated; surprisingly
