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"So you think the system is outdated?"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

In other words, the Israeli leader is beholden precisely to those who aim to annex Gaza and the occupied West Bank. —Yair Rosenberg, The Atlantic, 7 Aug. 2025

Authorities have not specified precisely what the three are accused of doing to help Drummond. —Emma Tucker, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2025

Yet the tethering of identity to digital access is precisely what is prescribed by a new wave of laws going into effect around the world and in bills under consideration in the U.S. —Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 6 Aug. 2025

Its blend of real-time insights, founder empathy, and enterprise-grade architecture is proving to be precisely what fast-growing companies need. —Geri Stengel, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for precisely

• concisely
• nicely