Roughly: meaning, definitions and examples

Used to describe an estimate that is not exact but close to the real value.

• There were roughly 100 people at the event.
• The building is roughly 10 years old.

Used in more formal contexts when giving a precise approximation.

• The flight will take approximately 10 hours.
• The city has a population of approximately 200,000.

Commonly used in everyday speech to give an estimated number or time.

• I have about $20 in my wallet.
• She will arrive at about 3 PM.

Used in casual speech to give a general idea of a number or time, similar to 'about'.

• She lives around here.
• I'll be there around 5 PM.

Implying that the number is close but not exact. Often used in informal speech.

• The repair will cost $100, more or less.
• It took us an hour, more or less, to finish the task.

Used when giving an approximate number or estimate.

• There were roughly 100 people at the event
• The trip takes roughly two hours

Describes something that is not finely textured or sophisticated.

• The fabric felt coarsely woven
• He chopped the vegetables coarsely for the stew

Implies a lack of sophistication, refinement, or in a basic, unpolished manner. It can have a negative connotation.

• The house was built crudely with logs
• He asked a crudely phrased question

Describes something done in a severe, or strict manner. Often has a negative connotation.

• The teacher spoke harshly to the misbehaving student
• The sunlight was shining harshly on their faces

Used to describe actions that are impolite or lack manners. Usually has a negative connotation.

• He rudely interrupted the conversation
• The child rudely refused to share his toys

This word is often used in informal contexts to give a general idea of a quantity or measurement without being precise.

• There were roughly 50 people at the party.
• He roughly sketched the outline of the building.

Commonly used in both formal and informal settings to indicate a value or number that is close but not exact. Often used in calculations or measurements.

• The approximate distance between the two cities is 200 miles.
• Can you give me an approximate time of arrival?

Typically used in formal contexts such as reports or analyses to indicate a calculated guess based on available information.

• The estimated cost of the project will be $1 million.
• Based on the weather forecast, the estimated time of arrival is 3 hours.

Generally used in more formal contexts to describe something that is not exactly accurate. Similar to 'imprecise' but often used in scientific or technical settings.

• The method used for the test is known to be inexact.
• The inexact measurements led to errors in the experiment.

Used to describe something that lacks accuracy or specificity. It often carries a negative connotation, implying carelessness or lack of detail.

• Her instructions were imprecise, making the task difficult to complete.
• The data we have is too imprecise to draw any conclusions.