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.
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.
Based on these numbers, on average, caregivers now receive only two hours (roughly) of training per month. — Jeff Beck, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026 As the fires spread, roughly 2,900 people — many roused from sleep — were told to evacuate or warned to prepare to flee. — Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 July 2026 Together, however, the two collections represented only a fraction of the roughly $188 million increase in auction sales over last spring. — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 7 July 2026 The campaign features three colorful and pink-hued drinks inspired by the vibrant hair colors and Snapchat filters that defined the era which ran from roughly 2014 through 2016. — Emily Rella, PEOPLE, 8 July 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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Browse Nearby Words

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 10 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on roughly

Nglish: Translation of roughly for Spanish Speakers

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