Cool MateNot exactly vs Somewhat
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Not exactly
Top 5,000 (fairly common)
Somewhat
Top 2,000 (common)B2adverb
Most common: Somewhat
| Not exactly | Somewhat | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //nɒt ɪɡˈzæktli//🇺🇸 //nɑt ɪɡˈzæktli// | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈsʌmwɒt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈsʌmwʌt/"]/ |
| Meaning | Not completely true or accurate. | To a certain degree or extent. |
| Example | The answer was not exactly what I expected. | **somewhat different/similar** |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 5,000 (fairly common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | - | B2 |
| Part of speech | adverb | |
| Collocations | not exactly correct, not exactly clear, not exactly true, not exactly what I mean, not exactly a solution | somewhat related, somewhat different, somewhat surprised, somewhat difficult, somewhat helpful |
| Antonyms | - | completely, totally, absolutely |
| Common mistakes | Confusing with 'not really', which is more casual., 'Not exactly' is sometimes overused in explanations., Learners may use it in formal contexts where a more definitive phrase is needed. | 'Somewhat' used incorrectly as an adjective., Confused with 'somewhat like' in contexts where 'somewhat' doesn’t need a comparison., Overusing 'somewhat' in sentences where a stronger adverb is necessary. |
| Usage notes | Used to express disagreement or to soften criticism. It is more polite than saying 'wrong'. Avoid in very formal writing. | Use 'somewhat' when you want to describe something that is not completely true but partially so. It's neutral, so it's suitable for both formal and informal contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Not exactly vs Somewhat
What's the difference between Not exactly and Somewhat?
Not exactly: Not completely true or accurate. Somewhat: To a certain degree or extent.
Which is more common: Not exactly and Somewhat?
Somewhat is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Not exactly: The answer was not exactly what I expected. Somewhat: **somewhat different/similar**
Can I use Not exactly and Somewhat interchangeably?
Not always. Not exactly and Somewhat are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.