adjective

exact

ihg-ZAKT

adjective

Perfectly accurate or precise; matching a standard or fact exactly, with nothing added or missing.

"I need the exact time the meeting starts."

"She gave an exact account of what happened."

Careful and precise by habit; strict about following rules or keeping promises.

"He is exact about paying his bills on the first of the month."

verb

To demand and enforce payment or compliance, sometimes forcefully.

"The landlord exacted rent from every tenant without exception."

To make something necessary or unavoidable.

"The job exacts a heavy toll on his free time."

How to Use Exact

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishPrecisely correct, or (as a verb) to demand something forcefully.

Common mistake

As an adjective it means "precise"; as a verb it means "to force/demand" — very different senses from the same spelling.

Common pairings

exact same exact location exact match exact opposite

Word Forms

exacter comparative, more exact comparative, more exact comparative, exacted past tense, exacts singular, exactest superlative, most exact superlative, most exact superlative

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Can you complete this real example?

I need the _____ time the meeting starts.

Etymology

From Latin exactus, "measured out" or "perfected," the past participle of exigere ("to drive out, demand, measure"), from ex- ("out") + agere ("to drive").

Synonyms

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spot on

Antonyms

inexact imprecise approximate loose

Related Words

loose drunk separate stiff sharp vague approximate tight

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