just as it should be
"`Precisely, my lord,' he said"
Without approximation; precisely.
"The clock stopped ticking at exactly 3:00 PM, marking the precise moment of our arrival."
In plain English: Exactly means precisely or just right without any difference.
"The clock stopped at exactly 6:00 PM."
Usage: Use exactly to emphasize that something is perfectly accurate or matches a specific detail with no deviation. It often modifies numbers, times, or descriptions to indicate absolute precision rather than an estimate.
Signifies agreement or recognition.
"That is exactly what I was thinking!"
Exactly comes from combining the word exact with the suffix -ly. It entered English as a straightforward formation to create an adverb meaning precisely or strictly.