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"So you think the system is outdated?"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

The attention Everytime received in Cannes – and now the jury’s confidence in the film – reinforce our belief that cinema needs distinctive voices with the courage to follow their own form and, precisely by doing so, reach audiences across borders. — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 25 Aug. 2026

None of this is irreversible, which is precisely why the CDC’s complacency is so hard to forgive. — A.j. Russo, Baltimore Sun, 25 Aug. 2026

Yet these are precisely the communities where affordable housing is needed most. — David Schwartz, New York Daily News, 25 Aug. 2026

Its ability to contour closely to the body is precisely what makes the material comfortable for many sleepers, but that close contact can also trap warmth. — New Atlas, 24 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for precisely

• concisely
• nicely