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"So you think the system is outdated?"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 of precisely

• 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

Most kits include detailed timing instructions following them precisely is the difference between a clean result and a regret. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Sacbee.com, 30 June 2026

Tracking plasma precisely Fusion is widely viewed as a potential source of carbon-free electricity, but maintaining stable plasma remains one of the biggest engineering challenges. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 30 June 2026

The best of them have built audiences by understanding, instinctively and precisely, how to earn attention and trust. — Jordan P. Kelley, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026

That is almost precisely the threshold at which the elder sibling tier begins. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 30 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for precisely

• concisely
• nicely