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"So you think the system is outdated?"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

• just
• right
• exactly

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

Those entities, including combinations of actual banks, also acted and act as regulators par excellence precisely because no private entity lends blithely. —John Tamny, Forbes.com, 6 July 2025

Generally, fighting cancer is about delivering a relentless attack on the spreading disease, but a new approach explores the possible benefits of toggling therapy off and on like a light switch, allowing oncologists to more precisely control drug action and potential side effects. —Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 July 2025

This was something of a surprise given Carter is regarded as England’s best player in one-against-one duels out wide, and she was probably favoured over Niamh Charles precisely for this reason. —Michael Cox, New York Times, 6 July 2025

More precisely, Jews have been subjected to an invidious double standard: attacks, verbal and physical, that would never be tolerated against Blacks, gays and other minorities are not only tolerated, but often justified when directed at Jews. —Alan M. Dershowitz, New York Daily News, 6 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for precisely

• concisely
• nicely