Exacting
/ɪɡˈzæktɪŋ/
adjectiveB2
Definition
Exacting describes something or someone that requires a lot of effort, precision, or following strict rules. It often refers to tasks, jobs, or people that expect things to be done perfectly or very carefully.
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See It in Action
Requiring great care and precision
- •The exacting standards of the laboratory mean every test must be perfect.
- •Painting a miniature model is an exacting task that needs steady hands.
- •The engineer’s exacting attention to detail prevented mistakes.
Demanding a lot of effort or attention
- •The job is exacting and requires long hours of concentration.
- •Being a pilot is an exacting profession that leaves no room for error.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "exacting" like "hard" or "difficult," but focused on being very precise and careful, not just tough
- ✓Picture a teacher who checks every small mistake in your homework, wanting everything perfect
- ✓It's the feeling when you must do a job exactly right, or else it will not work well
- ✓Sounds like "egg-ZACK-ting" → imagine a person cracking an egg exactly in the right way, no shell pieces allowed
- ✓Think of a chef who measures ingredients exactly to make a perfect cake — no extra sugar or missing salt
- ✓NOT like "easy" (simple, no pressure), "exacting" means you must work hard and be careful
- ✓NOT like "rough" (not smooth or careful), "exacting" is about careful and strict standards
- ✓NOT like "strict" (rules or people), but "exacting" focuses on the need for precision in work or behavior
Try Other Words
- •Demanding: needing a lot of effort or skill (Use when the focus is on how hard something is, not just how careful)
- •Precise: very accurate and exact (Use when focusing only on accuracy, less on effort or difficulty)
- •Strict: firm about rules or behavior (Use when talking about rules or discipline, not tasks)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "ex-" (out, thoroughly) + "act" (do, perform) + "-ing" (adjective form) → meaning something done thoroughly or with full attention
- •Etymology: From Latin "exigere," meaning "to demand or require"
- •Historical development: Originally meant to demand or require exactly; over time used to describe careful and strict requirements
- •Modern usage: Used to describe tasks, standards, or people that require careful attention, effort, and high quality
Reflect & Connect
•Can something be too exacting? How would you know if a task is too demanding or precise?
•How does being exacting help or hurt people when learning new skills?
Fill in the blanks
1.The exacting nature of the project means you must ___ every detail carefully to avoid mistakes.
2.Because the teacher is exacting, students feel ___ to do their best work.
3.Unlike a simple task, an exacting job requires ___ concentration and effort.
4.When someone is exacting about rules, they often ___ small errors that others might miss.
5.The chef’s exacting standards ___ that every ingredient is measured perfectly.
6.Exacting work often ___ patience and steady hands to complete successfully.
7.If a task is not exacting, it usually allows for ___ or less careful work.