precisely

adverb

pre·​cise·​ly pri-ˈsīs-lē 

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"So you think the system is outdated?"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."

Synonyms

• due
• exactly
• full
• just
• right
• sharp
• smack-dab
• squarely

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

As a food critic, Lee has discovered precisely the kind of delicacy and control that are stripped away in the ring. —Aaron Timms, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2024

But the pass arrived precisely on time, hitting Addison for a game-winning score. —Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2024

This is one of those books that puts its finger very precisely and somewhat uncomfortably on the material concerns of a certain milieu. —Vogue, 25 Apr. 2024

The jury did not hear from a witness who testified about at precisely what times the killings occurred. —Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Apr. 2024

Learning how to precisely time perfect parries and dodges is the key to keeping Eve alive and vanquishing foes, with much of her branching skill tree built around elevating those two simple moves. —Katcy Stephan, Variety, 24 Apr. 2024

Largely left out of the equation, however, are precisely the states most open to China’s vision of transformation—most members of the BRICS, the SCO, and nondemocratic emerging and middle-income economies. —Elizabeth Economy, Foreign Affairs, 23 Apr. 2024

This precisely crafted Champagne uses only the tête de cuvée juice, a highly selective process of extraction. —Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 21 Apr. 2024

It’s born from Modi’s unique appeal, which blends Hindu nationalism, personal charisma, big-ticket infrastructure spending and generous welfare programs into a powerful pitch that overshadows his failure to deliver enough jobs to precisely these voters. —Gerry Shih, Washington Post, 18 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1