Synonyms of precisely
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"So you think the system is outdated?"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."

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
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 wheels need to remain lightweight and precisely balanced while rotating at speeds of up to 6,000 rpm. Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 1 Sep. 2026 Trump’s tariffs on Canada and Mexico in 2025 and his escalating trade war with Canada this year have turned the countries’ attentions inward, onto disputes among the three partners, at precisely the moment when the threat is coming from the outside. Chad P. Bown, Foreign Affairs, 1 Sep. 2026 That combination—a hard deadline six years out and a Congress that can’t agree on next steps—is precisely what Shedden says is pushing clients toward the exits early, even though claiming at 62 locks in a permanently smaller monthly check for life. Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2026 These zones adjust their brightness dynamically and intelligently according to real-time on-screen content, precisely dimming dark scene areas while maintaining pure and bright highlight details. New Atlas, 31 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for precisely

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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

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Cite this Entry

“Precisely.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/precisely. Accessed 3 Sep. 2026.

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