# vaguely

/ˈveɪɡɫi/ (US) · /vˈeɪɡli/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/vaguely
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. not clearly

adverb · CEFR B2

in a way that is not clear or exact.

For teachers: in a manner that lacks precision or distinctness.

- I vaguely remember meeting him at a party a few years ago.
- The witness could only vaguely describe the suspect, noting a dark jacket but failing to recall any specific facial features.

Usage: Often used with verbs of cognition like 'remember', 'recall', or 'understand'.

### 2. slightly or somewhat

adverb · CEFR B2

slightly or in a small way that is hard to describe.

For teachers: to a slight degree; somewhat or marginally.

- The new manager looks vaguely familiar, but I can't place her.
- The atmosphere in the meeting was vaguely hostile, though no one said anything explicitly aggressive.

Usage: Frequently modifies adjectives to soften a statement or express a gut feeling.

Teaching tip: This sense is very common in spoken English to express a feeling you can't quite explain.

## Examples

- I vaguely remember meeting him at a party.
- The witness could only vaguely describe the suspect, as the streetlights were very dim.
- The plot of the new film felt vaguely familiar, though I was certain I had never read the source material or seen the original trailer.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.