ENGLISH
REFERENCE

roughly

adv. degree
B2 Upper Intermediate Oxford US //ˈɹəfɫi// UK //ɹˈʌfli// rough·ly General-service

adv. not exactly, but close to a certain number or amount. You use it when you are giving an estimate rather than a perfect measurement.

adv. approximately or nearly; used to indicate that a figure or description is close to the truth but not precise.


SIMPLE

The trip takes roughly three hours by car.

CONTEXTUAL

The project will cost roughly five thousand dollars, though the final price depends on the materials we choose.

COMPLEX

The researchers estimated that roughly two-thirds of the population had access to clean water before the new infrastructure was built, highlighting a significant gap in public services.

Synonyms
Origin

From rough + -ly.

Usage

Typically placed immediately before the numerical value or adjective it modifies.

Pitfall

The roughly cost is ten dollars.The cost is roughly ten dollars.Roughly is an adverb and cannot modify a noun directly; it should modify the verb or the numerical value.

© 2026 English Reference