in fact
∞
1.0
- idiom
- /ɪn fækt/
:
de hecho
- She is, in fact, the best candidate for the job.
- In fact, many
- In fact, many countries
He's saying pure duty is in fact pure knowing.
- He's saying pure duty is in fact pure knowing.
- But then it seems that no, it is in fact happening again.
- What you thought to be the shortest path was in fact a dead end.
- I've come to realize that I am, in fact, extremely threatened.
- Then provide photographic proof that it is, in fact, far too late.
- And of course, I did in fact make a presentation.
- We find out that the painted room does in fact have these paintings.
- You see that smiling picture, but in fact it wasn't what you thought.
- The guy comes up and he is, in fact, Dracula.
- All I will say is I did, in fact, get a little too drunk.
- And her parents had in fact, been in America and Canada.
- Right now, in fact, this is a lot like money.
- It's considered chewy when in fact it's not chewy.
Examples
-
When you first look at this, you think it's a free lunch, but in fact it's fiendishly complicated.
Fiction book (1991) -
All I will say is I did, in fact, get a little too drunk.
-
Now we know they are in fact the same force.
-
But then it seems that no, it is in fact happening again.
-
Yes, folks, it does in fact get even bigger.
-
Right now, in fact, this is a lot like money.
-
In fact, he told me that he feels responsible.
-
In fact, this is a crime.
-
What you thought to be the shortest path was in fact a dead end.
-
In fact, I've come to speak to you on that very subject.
Synonyms
∞
1.0
Shows that something is true or certain
∞
1.0
To show that something is really true even if surprising
∞
1.0
To emphasize and agree that something is true
345
3.0
To say that something is true, often when it is surprising
341
1.0
You say this when something is completely true
207
3.3
Says what is really true to correct a wrong idea
190
3.3
Shows what is true rather than how things appear
84
3.8
Actually, what is said is true even if people think otherwise
6
5.6
Shows that something is true despite what people thought
Admitting a point that goes against what you said
How Emphatic
Surface Forms
Morphology
Knowing 'in' and 'fact' lets a learner infer a meaning like 'within truth' or 'actually', so the phrase's basic emphatic sense is partially derivable from its parts. However, its function as a fixed discourse marker used to contrast or add information is not fully predictable from the constituents alone (even though many languages have similar markers), so it is only partially transparent.
Etymology
In fact is like pointing to the real thing after someone says something different. Imagine a person hearing a wrong idea and then saying in fact while showing what really happened, so the phrase corrects the earlier idea and emphasizes the 'truth'.