precisely

adverb

pri-ˈsīs-lē How to pronounce precisely (audio)
Definition of preciselynext
1
as in just
as stated or indicated without the slightest difference arrived precisely at noon

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in exactly
in the same manner I feel precisely the same way as you do

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in strictly
without any relaxation of standards or precision measured the length of the board precisely

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of precisely The sender decides how much to reveal, but the radio host must make sure that each message, if lightly edited, conveys precisely what the sender intended. — Jordan Salama, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026 The frequency trajectory precisely matched the rise in the frequency of the nonshattering trait observed in seed remains that archaeologists found at sites in China’s Yangtze Valley. — Ornob Alam, The Conversation, 12 Oct. 2026 The question the hosts were debating, by pointing to a specific subset of one immigrant group, was precisely how incompatible Indian Americans were with American culture, and by what degree Indian immigration should be discouraged. — Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 10 Oct. 2026 While some of the engineering can be precisely calculated — air, water, waste, power, occupancy and storage, for example — other questions around bunker design are murkier. — Megan Buerger, Washington Post, 9 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for precisely
Recent Examples of Synonyms for precisely
  1. just
  2. exactly
  3. strictly
  4. right
  5. carefully
Adverb
  • The questions came after Zacharia made a brief debut to the media on Tuesday, taking just three questions from reporters after reading off a script.
    — Michael Birnbaum The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Genetic comparisons revealed that deep-sea viral communities in the region are almost entirely unique, with just 4 percent of their protein clusters matching global databases.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of just
Adverb
  • No two rooms are exactly alike, although all make use of a similar restrained coastal aesthetic of blues, grays, and whites.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Oct. 2026
  • In the first of two nights there Monday, Williams performed for almost exactly two hours without doing a single Paramore song — and what’s remarkable is, nobody cared.
    — Chris Willman, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of exactly
Adverb
  • Volant said most guests have welcomed the new rules — with some even encouraging the hotel to enforce them more strictly, the article noted.
    — Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 11 Oct. 2026
  • The single largest contribution that Suffolk made to my life, though, was strictly nonacademic.
    — David Shribman, Christian Science Monitor, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of strictly
Adverb
  • If elected, Whiting wants to dive right in to figure out other ways to expedite permitting, including through the use of AI and other tech.
    — Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 10 Oct. 2026
  • And right in the middle is a cutout whose shape evokes the head of a bald eagle — and that's the name that Krasner gave to this collage.
    — Anastasia Tsioulcas, NPR, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of right
Adverb
  • The appointment time may be longer than for other gel manicures—and in many cases more expensive—but that laser focus on cleaning up the cuticles, prepping the nails, and carefully applying the polish is what helps it to last.
    — Lucy Abbersteen, Allure, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Have any of these changes been carefully tested, following usual protocols for reviewing any changes to the census?
    — Nancy Krieger, STAT, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of carefully

Browse Nearby Words

precise
precisely
preciseness
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Precisely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/precisely. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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