Synonyms of precisely
1
: in a precise manner : exactly
weighing ingredients precisely
This incremental adjustment is continued until the bubble is precisely centered.—Barry F. Kavanagh
—often used to emphasize the precision of something (such as a measurement, time, description, etc.)
The sample weighed precisely 6 ounces.
We arrived at precisely two o'clock.
She always knows precisely what to do.
He was popular precisely because he was so kind.
She always woke at eight precisely.—P. G. Wodehouse
It is precisely to counter this sort of "negative advertising" that the garbage industry has lately been working hard to change its image.—Elizabeth Royte
2
: quite so
—used to confirm emphatically that what has been said or suggested is exactly correct
"So you think the system is outdated?" "Precisely."

Examples of precisely in a Sentence

I feel precisely the same way as you do. measured the length of the board precisely
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Maintaining this feedback can help users control prosthetic devices more precisely. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 29 Oct. 2026 The nozzle is also very slim, which helps the liquidy formula dispense more precisely onto my fingers without running everywhere. — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 28 Oct. 2026 And for many borrowers, that's precisely what's happening right now, and a recent study from Freedom Debt Relief illustrates how widespread the problem has become. — Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 28 Oct. 2026 These are called heighted neumes because the dots representing the individual notes rise and fall as precisely as if they are laid on an invisible grid. — Literary Hub, 27 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for precisely

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of precisely was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Precisely.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/precisely. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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