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.)Barry F. KavanaghThe 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
P. G. WodehouseIt is precisely to counter this sort of "negative advertising" that the garbage industry has lately been working hard to change its image.—Elizabeth Royte
Elizabeth Royte2
: quite so
—used to confirm emphatically that what has been said or suggested is exactly correct
"So you think the system is outdated?" "Precisely."
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
Scientists can map entire brains at the cellular level, track neural activity during behavior, and precisely switch neurons on or off.
—Adam Kepecs, The Conversation, 10 Apr. 2025
And my colleagues in the Senate, for sure, and some in the House on this side of the aisle, want precisely that.
—Daniel R. Depetris, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Apr. 2025
There have been a few ups, a multitude of downs and precisely one meaningful trophy.
—George Caulkin, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2025
Finding a quality corset that fits precisely can take some trial and error.
—Jolene Edgar, Allure, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for precisely
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Adam Kepecs, The Conversation, 10 Apr. 2025
And my colleagues in the Senate, for sure, and some in the House on this side of the aisle, want precisely that.
—Daniel R. Depetris, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Apr. 2025
There have been a few ups, a multitude of downs and precisely one meaningful trophy.
—George Caulkin, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2025
Finding a quality corset that fits precisely can take some trial and error.
—Jolene Edgar, Allure, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for precisely
Cite this Entry
“Precisely.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/precisely. Accessed 17 Apr. 2025.
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