From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishexactex‧act1 /ɪɡˈzækt/ ●●● S2 W3 adjective 1 EXACTcompletely correct in every detail Police are still investigating the exact cause of the accident. What were his exact words? The timing had to be exact.exact location/position/spot etc The exact location of the hostages is unknown.exact date/time/number/amount etc I know her birthday’s in July, but I can’t remember the exact date.exact copy/replica etc It’s not an exact copy, but most people wouldn’t notice the difference. Some concepts in Chinese medicine have no exact equivalent in Western medicine.► see thesaurus at right2 → to be exact3 → the exact colour/moment/type etc4 → the exact opposite (of somebody/something)5 → something is not an exact science6 CAREFULsomeone who is exact is very careful and thorough in what they do SYN precise —exactness noun [uncountable]COLLOCATIONSnounsthe exact amount/number/figureI don’t know the exact amount, but it was a lot.the exact sizeFirst, cut a piece of wood about 1cm x 10cm – the exact size doesn’t matter.the exact dateHe plans to retire soon, but the exact date is not fixed.the exact time/momentAt that exact moment, the phone rang.the exact position/location/spot etcThe satellite pictures showed the enemy’s exact location.an exact copy/replica (=something which has been made, that is exactly like another thing)The vessel is an exact replica of a Viking longboat.an exact equivalent (=something that has exactly the same meaning, purpose, value etc as something else)There is no exact equivalent in English for the phrase.an exact match (=something that is exactly the same as something else)The two DNA samples were an exact match.the exact details (=details that are correct in every way)Nobody knows the exact details of what happened.somebody’s exact words (=the words someone actually said)Try to remember his exact words – it’s very important.the exact wording (=the words that were used in a letter, speech, etc, with nothing changed)What was the exact wording of the message?phrasesthe exact same thing/way etc informal (=exactly the same thing/way etc)If you’d been there, you’d have done the exact same thing. THESAURUSexact an exact number, amount, or time is completely correct and is no more and no less than it should beThe exact weight of the baby at birth was 3.2 kg.The exact time is 8:16 a.m.precise precise information is based on clear and exact figures or measurements, especially when it is important that no mistakes are madeWe need to know your precise location.It’s difficult to be precise about the number of deaths caused by smoking.accurate completely correct because all the details are trueThe witness tried to give an accurate description of what she had seen.accurate financial forecasts
Examples from the Corpus
exact• It took her about an hour - 58 minutes to be exact.• I don't suppose you have the exact amount of money, do you?• Doctors do not know the exact cause of the disease.• The analysis thus involves the exact description not only of the language of the text, but also of its content.• It's not an exact likeness, but it's recognisable as my father.• Give a copy to your removal firm together with a description or map of your home's exact location.• More often than not, browsing is presented to the user by default when the system fails to provide an exact match.• You need to give me the exact measurements of the room.• It is difficult to determine the exact number of homeless people.• At 80, you are the exact opposite.• The bill does not, however, specify the exact procedure for notification.• Finding out the exact proportions and method of preparation will take some time and be a very tricky operation.• an exact replica of a 900-year-old Buddhist shrine• That same family, with the exact same buying power, would have been forced into the 40-percent bracket by 1980.• She's wearing the exact same dress I bought last week!• The exact time is 2:37 p.m.• "Can you tell me the exact time?" "It's 6.37."• And the exact timing is simply the Vadinamian way.• The exact weight of the baby at birth was 3.2 kg.• I can't remember her exact words, but this is the gist of what she said.exact location/position/spot etc• Give a copy to your removal firm together with a description or map of your home's exact location.• This question helps us determine the exact location for the various types of work that will be done.• The exact location is important, as are details of when the accident happened and how far some one has fallen.• Plans, sections, and even models were made, and the exact position of every object was recorded.• Nor should application developers have to code into their applications the exact locations of resources over the network.• If the exact location of the incident is known the team members go directly to it.• The exact spot on the bridge table the gold vase belonged.• And at Niagara, guides pocketed tips by pointing to the exact spot where Sam Patch had made his last successful leap.exactexact2 verb [transitive] 1 formalGET to demand and get something from someone by using threats, force etcexact something from somebody I exacted a promise from Ros that she wouldn’t say a word.2 → exact revenge (on somebody)3 → exact a high/heavy price→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
exact• But like all strong magic, it exacts a price.• Among the jazz artists, drugs and liquor have exacted a terrible toll.• Indeed, they may have to be manufactured to exact customer specifications.• Yet each was built by hand to exacting standards.• Adults forget that most children really do want to grow up, if only to exact their own small revenges.• Payment was to be exacted through a land tax or rent set by the republics according to the quality of the land.• It is not exacting with regard to temperature and is suitable for tropical as well as cold-water aquariums.From Longman Business Dictionaryexactex‧act /ɪgˈzækt/ verb [transitive] formal to demand and get something from someone, especially using forceful methodsMy client is only claiming the return of taxes exacted under an unlawful demand. —exaction noun [uncountable]The company supervises the exaction of tolls at the port.→ See Verb tableOrigin exact1 (1500-1600) Latin exactus, past participle of exigere; → EXACT2 exact2 (1500-1600) Latin past participle of exigere “to drive out, demand, measure”, from agere “to drive” 