roughly

adverb

rough·​ly ˈrə-flē How to pronounce roughly (audio)
Synonyms of roughlynext
1
: in a rough manner: such as
a
: with harshness or violence
treated the prisoner roughly
b
: in crude fashion : imperfectly
roughly dressed lumber
2
: without completeness or exactness : approximately
roughly 20 percent

Synonyms of roughly

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Examples of roughly in a Sentence

Roughly translated, it means “hurry up!”. The new product is modeled roughly on an earlier design. He threw the package roughly in the truck. The guard told us roughly that we had to stand back.
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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.
According to the researchers, formation accounts for roughly one-third of battery production costs and occupies about a quarter of a manufacturing facility’s floor space. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 29 Oct. 2026 Chiquita Canyon’s garbage fire has exceeded 212 degrees Fahrenheit, or beyond boiling and has expanded from approximately 20 acres in 2022 to roughly 90 acres and continuing to grow. — Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2026 More than 2,500 troops are operating THAAD and Patriot systems across the Middle East, representing roughly one-third of the Army's missile defense units. — Arkansas Online, 29 Oct. 2026 On average, caregivers today spend more than $11,500 per year looking after people who need support, up roughly 60% from 2021, the group found. — Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 28 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for roughly

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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

Rhymes for roughly

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rough lumber
roughly
rough-machine
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Cite this Entry

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

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