roughly

adverb

RUF-lee/ˈɹʌf.li/

3 meanings of roughly

1
adverb
Without precision or exactness; close to a given quantity or amount; approximately.
The repairs will cost roughly three thousand dollars, depending on the parts.
The stadium holds roughly forty thousand people when every seat is filled.
Similarapproximately, about, around, nearly, almost
Oppositeexactly, precisely
2
adverb
In a harsh, ungentle way, showing no softness or kindness.
She handled the frightened cat roughly, and it scratched her in panic.
The officer questioned the suspect roughly, slamming his hand on the table.
Similarharshly, rudely, severely
Oppositegently, tenderly, softly
3
adverb
In an uneven or irregular manner.
The stone wall was built roughly, with gaps between the mismatched blocks.
He tore the paper roughly, leaving a jagged edge across the page.
Similarcrudely, unevenly, raggedly, irregularly
Oppositeneatly, evenly, smoothly

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of roughly apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

Formed from "rough" plus the adverb-forming suffix "-ly".