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"So you think the system is outdated?"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

But that feels precisely wrong. —Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 24 Oct. 2025

How officials precisely plan to achieve these goals will only become clearer over the coming months and years. —Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2025

This final line refers precisely to that connection. —Callum McLennan, Variety, 24 Oct. 2025

Equipped with a next-generation ultrasonic transducer and an advanced control unit, the spider robot can precisely navigate complex and angled surfaces. —Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for precisely

• concisely
• nicely