Exact — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb adjective /ig-ˈzakt/ ex·act

Meaning & Definition of Exact

Exact (verb)

  1. to call for forcibly or urgently and obtain
  2. to call for as necessary or desirable

Exact (adjective)

  1. exhibiting or marked by strict, particular, and complete accordance with fact or a standard
  2. marked by thorough consideration or minute measurement of small factual details

Exact (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. being in agreement with the truth or a fact or a standard

    "maybe I wasn't being very exact when I said I had done it a million times—but it sure seemed like it"

    similar: accurate, bang on (chiefly British), correct, dead-on, good, on-target, precise, proper, right, so, spot-on, true, veracious, on target, on the money
    related: legitimate, logical, sound, valid, errorless, faultless, flawless, impeccable, inerrant, infallible, letter-perfect, perfect, rigorous, strict, stringent
    opposite: false, improper, inaccurate, incorrect, inexact, off, untrue, wrong
    near: defective, faulty, flawed, imperfect

  2. being neither more nor less than a certain amount, number, or extent

    "the exact number of passengers on that airplane was 147"

    similar: even, flat, precise, round
    near: approximate, comparative, near, relative, imprecise

  3. following an original exactly

    "an exact replica of an aircraft flown by the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II"

    similar: accurate, authentic, faithful, precise, right, strict, true, veracious
    related: lifelike, realistic, careful, conscientious, meticulous, punctilious, scrupulous, authoritative, bona fide, genuine, real, veridical
    opposite: corrupt, corrupted, false, imprecise, inaccurate, inauthentic, inexact, loose, unfaithful
    near: careless, slack, slipshod, slovenly, erroneous, incorrect, invalid, off, unsound, untrue, untruthful, wrong

  4. made or done with extreme care and accuracy

    "the company stresses that its optical telescopes are exact instruments and should not be handled as toys"

    similar: delicate, fine, finespun, hairline, hairsplitting, minute, nice, nuanced, refined, subtle
    related: nitpicking, quibbling, frivolous, inconsequential, inconsiderable, insignificant, negligible, petty, piddling, trifling, trivial, demanding, exacting, fastidious, finical, finicking, finicky, fussy, meticulous, particular, picky
    opposite: coarse, inexact, rough
    near: apparent, clear, clear-cut, evident, manifest, obvious, open-and-shut, palpable, patent, perspicuous, plain, transparent, unambiguous, unequivocal, unmistakable, broad, indefinite, careless, heedless, incautious, slapdash, slipshod, sloppy

  5. meeting the highest standard of accuracy

    "in order for the blind to fit properly, we must have the exact measurements of the window"

    similar: accurate, close, delicate, fine, hairline, mathematical, pinpoint, precise, refined, rigorous, spot-on
    related: correct, right, strict, true, definite, definitive, nice, subtle, careful, fastidious, finical, finicky, meticulous
    opposite: coarse, imprecise, inaccurate, inexact, rough
    near: approximate, round, false, incorrect, untrue, wrong, careless, loose, indefinite, unclear, vague, doubtful, dubious, questionable, unreliable, untrustworthy

Exact (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to ask for (something) earnestly or with authority

    "every war inevitably exacts the greatest sacrifice possible from some of the nation's best and brightest"

    similar: call (for), claim, clamor (for), command, demand, enjoin, insist (on), press (for), quest, stipulate (for)
    related: ask, plead (for), request, want, cry (for), necessitate, need, require, take, warrant, requisition, impose, badger, dun, harass, hound
    near: give up, relinquish, surrender, yield

  2. to establish or apply as a charge or penalty

    "vowed to exact a heavy fine from any hockey player engaging in such outrageous behavior on the ice"

    similar: assess, charge, fine, impose, lay, levy, put
    related: dock, excise, mulct, penalize, tax, extort, shake down, wrest, wring, bleed, fleece, gouge, milk, skin, squeeze, coerce, compel, force, inflict, wreak, set, reapply, reimpose, relay
    opposite: remit
    near: abate, diminish, lessen, forgive, release, condone, disregard, excuse, gloss (over), gloze (over), ignore, pardon

  3. to get (as money) by the use of force or threats

    "that loan shark can be counted upon to exact repayment of his loan by whatever means necessary"

    similar: extort, wrest, wring
    related: bleed, fleece, gouge, milk, skin, squeeze, cheat, racketeer, swindle, coerce, compel, force

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Exact

The most common words with a similar meaning to Exact:

Chiefly British: bang on
accurate, correct, dead-on, good, on-target, precise, proper, right, so, spot-on, true, veracious, even, flat, round, authentic, faithful, strict, delicate, fine, finespun, hairline, hairsplitting, minute, nice, nuanced, refined, subtle, close, mathematical, pinpoint, rigorous, on target, on the money, call (for), claim, clamor (for), command, demand, enjoin

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Exact

Words with the opposite meaning of Exact:

false, improper, inaccurate, incorrect, inexact, off, untrue, wrong, corrupt, corrupted, imprecise, inauthentic, loose, unfaithful, coarse, rough, remit

Related Words for Exact

legitimate, logical, sound, valid, errorless, faultless, flawless, impeccable, inerrant, infallible, letter-perfect, perfect, stringent, lifelike, realistic, careful, conscientious, meticulous, punctilious, scrupulous, authoritative, bona fide, genuine, real, veridical, nitpicking, quibbling, frivolous, inconsequential, inconsiderable

Near Antonyms of Exact

defective, faulty, flawed, imperfect, approximate, comparative, near, relative, careless, slack, slipshod, slovenly, erroneous, invalid, unsound, untruthful, apparent, clear, clear-cut, evident, manifest, obvious, open-and-shut, palpable, patent, perspicuous, plain, transparent, unambiguous, unequivocal

Word Forms of Exact

Inflections: exacted, exacting, exacts

Derived words: exactable (adjective), exactor (noun), exactness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Exact

Middle English exacten "to require as payment," borrowed from Latin exāctus, past participle of exigere "to drive out, achieve, enforce payment of or the performance of (a task), require, inquire into, examine" from ex- ex-:1 + agere "to drive (cattle), be in motion, do, perform" agent

First known use: 1564

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Exact

Words & Phrases Containing Exact

exact differential, exact science, exact opposite, exact same, to be exact

Frequently Asked Questions about Exact

What does "Exact" mean?

"Exact" means to call for forcibly or urgently and obtain. As an a verb and an adjective, it is defined as: to call for forcibly or urgently and obtain. It has 8 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Exact"?

Other words for "Exact" include accurate, bang on, correct, dead-on, good, on-target, precise and proper. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Exact" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Exact"?

There are 140 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Exact". Common alternatives include accurate, bang on, correct, dead-on, good, on-target, precise, proper, right and so.

What is the opposite of "Exact"?

Antonyms of "Exact" include false, improper, inaccurate, incorrect, inexact, off, untrue and wrong. Near antonyms include defective, faulty, flawed and imperfect.

How do you use "Exact" in a sentence?

Examples of "Exact" in a sentence: "maybe I wasn't being very exact when I said I had done it a million times—but it sure seemed like it"; "the exact number of passengers on that airplane was 147"; "an exact replica of an aircraft flown by the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II".

Is "Exact" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Exact" can be used as a verb and an adjective, depending on the context.

Is "Exact" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A2-level word, "Exact" is typical of Cambridge A2 Key (KET), PTE Academic 30–42, TOEIC Listening & Reading 225+.

How do you pronounce "Exact"?

"Exact" is pronounced /ig-ˈzakt/ and divided into syllables as ex·act.