exact Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb claim as due or just
    demand.
    • The bank demanded payment of the loan
  2. verb take as an undesirable consequence of some event or state of affairs
    claim; take.
    • the accident claimed three lives
    • The hard work took its toll on her
  3. adjective marked by strict and particular and complete accordance with fact
    • an exact mind
    • an exact copy
    • hit the exact center of the target
  4. adjective satellite (of ideas, images, representations, expressions) characterized by perfect conformity to fact or truth; strictly correct
    precise; accurate.
    • a precise image
    • a precise measurement

WordNet

Ex*act" adjective
Etymology
L. exactus precise, accurate, p. p. of exigere to drive out, to demand, enforce, finish, determine, measure; ex out + agere to drive; cf. F. exact. See Agent, Act.
Definitions
  1. Precisely agreeing with a standard, a fact, or the truth; perfectly conforming; neither exceeding nor falling short in any respect; true; correct; precise; as, the clock keeps exact time; he paid the exact debt; an exact copy of a letter; exact accounts.
    I took a great pains to make out the exact truth. Jowett (Thucyd. )
  2. Habitually careful to agree with a standard, a rule, or a promise; accurate; methodical; punctual; as, a man exact in observing an appointment; in my doings I was exact. "I see thou art exact of taste." Milton.
  3. Precisely or definitely conceived or stated; strict.
    An exact command, Larded with many several sorts of reason. Shak.
Ex*act" transitive verb
Etymology
From L. exactus, p. p. of exigere; or fr. LL. exactare: cf. OF. exacter. See Exact, a.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Exacted; present participle & verbal noun Exacting
Definitions
  1. To demand or require authoritatively or peremptorily, as a right; to enforce the payment of, or a yielding of; to compel to yield or to furnish; hence, to wrest, as a fee or reward when none is due; -- followed by from or of before the one subjected to exaction; as, to exact tribute, fees, obedience, etc., from or of some one.
    He said into them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you. Luke. iii. 13.
    Years of servise past From grateful souls exact reward at last Dryden.
    My designs Exact me in another place. Massinger.
Ex*act" intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To practice exaction. R.
    The anemy shall not exact upon him. Ps. lxxxix. 22.

Webster 1913