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Definition of roughly

roughly

/ˈrʌf.li/
rough · ly
Adjective:rough
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roughly Lexical Profile

roughly Game Scores & Validity

• adverb

1

Approximately; more or less; without exact calculation or precision.

Example

"The construction project will take roughly six months to complete."

2

In a harsh, forceful, or unrefined manner; without gentleness or care.

Example

"The heavy wooden crates were tossed roughly onto the loading dock."

3

In a preliminary, unfinished, or uneven form; without fine detail or polish.

Example

"The sculptor roughly carved the outline of the figure from a block of marble."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for roughly

• Nearby Words

roughhewn
roughhouse
roughing
roughly
roughneck
roughness
roughy

Word Origin & Etymology

From Middle English 'roughly', continuing Old English 'hruhlice', formed from the adjective 'hruh' ('rough, coarse') and the adverbial suffix '-lice' ('-ly').

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Roughly. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/roughly
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