in actual fact; to be nominally but not actually independent; no one actually saw the shark; large meteorites actually come from the asteroid belt

[ Syn: really , really , really , really , really , really , really , really ]

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

[ Syn: in reality , in reality , in reality , in reality , in reality , in reality , in reality , in reality ]

at the present moment; the transmission screen shows the picture that is actually on the air'

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'