roughly

adverb

rough·​ly ˈrə-flē How to pronounce roughly (audio)
1
: in a rough manner: such as
a
: with harshness or violence
treated the prisoner roughly
b
: in crude fashion : imperfectly
roughly dressed lumber
2
: without completeness or exactness : approximately
roughly 20 percent

Examples of roughly in a Sentence

Roughly translated, it means “hurry up!”. The new product is modeled roughly on an earlier design. He threw the package roughly in the truck. The guard told us roughly that we had to stand back.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The five megawatt-hour energy storage system offers roughly the same capacity as 88 Teslas, according to Vripack. Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 8 July 2025 Over in San Miguel de Allende—the No. 1 city this year according to readers, that's roughly 3.5 hours northeast in the highlands of Guanajuato—WBA voters praised two hotels that imbue the guest experience with true Mexican culture at every turn. Sarah Bruning, Travel + Leisure, 8 July 2025 He’s credited with adding roughly 1,700 words to the English-language lexicon. Sam Kelly july 8, Literary Hub, 8 July 2025 The trail’s path will roughly follow the South Fork Catawba River, a tributary that meets the larger Catawba River near the state line. Abby Pender, Charlotte Observer, 8 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for roughly

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of roughly was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Roughly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/roughly. Accessed 14 Jul. 2025.

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