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vocabulary
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precise
in a sentence
grouped by contextual meaning

precise as in:  about noon; 12:03 to be precise

Is it precise enough if I measure to the closest inch?
precise = accurate
Show 3 more with this contextual meaning
  • The detective is talking to all the witnesses to try to determine the precise sequence of events.
    precise = exact
  • The company says it measures calories burned within 15% or the precise measurement that could be obtained in a laboratory.
  • The new test measures hormone levels more precisely.
    precisely = accurately
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Show 10 more with 6 word variations
  • I've forgotten so many things, and yet I always know precisely how many days I've been in my domain.  (source)
    precisely = exactly
  • I apologize — I mean I should have been more precise.  (source)
    precise = accurate
  • Probably this whole segment of the woods has been armed with precision launchers that are concealed in trees or rocks.  (source)
    standard suffix: The suffix "-sion", converts a verb into a noun that denotes the action or result of the verb. Typically, there is a slight change in the ending of the root verb, as in admission from admit, discussion from discuss, and invasion from invade.
  • The boy was startled by the preciseness of the date and he repeated it before he asked, "How did it come about?"†  (source)
    preciseness = exactness or accuracy
    standard suffix: The suffix "-ness" converts an adjective to a noun that means the quality of. This is the same pattern you see in words like darkness, kindness, and coolness.
  • Liberalism—and I use that term imprecisely and in the abstract, meaning only what I thought at a particular time in reaction against my environment—gave me the opportunity to sharpen my rather charming, naïve political and social views.†  (source)
    imprecisely = not exactly or accurately
    standard prefix: The prefix "im-" in imprecisely means not and reverses the meaning of precisely. This prefix is sometimes used before words beginning with "M" or "P" as seen in words like immoral, immature, and impossible.
  • For the hundredth time he resented the element of imprecision, the margin of guesswork that entered into the business.†  (source)
    imprecision = the quality of lacking exactness or accuracy
    standard prefix: The prefix "im-" in imprecision means not and reverses the meaning of precision. This prefix is sometimes used before words beginning with "M" or "P" as seen in words like immoral, immature, and impossible.
  • No one ever said precisely what it was that she would not be able to manage.  (source)
    precisely = exactly
  • To be more precise, because of the behavior of the system in phase space.  (source)
    precise = accurate
  • His fingers were long and fine and they moved with great precision.  (source)
    precision = accuracy
  • "Half an hour ago," the stableman said imprecisely.†  (source)
    imprecisely = not exactly or accurately
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precise as in:  a precise personality

She has the kind of precise personality that never has a cluttered desk or an out-of-fashion item in her closet.
precise = meticulous (careful about details)
Show 3 more with this contextual meaning
  • She is precise in her thinking, appearance, and movements.
  • "I just want to be clear about a few details," he said, making notes in a precise hand.  (source)
    precise = meticulous (very neat)
  • If he had yelled, I would have known that the yelling was the worst he planned to do. But his voice is quiet and his words precise.  (source)
    precise = carefully chosen
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Show 10 more with 5 word variations
  • His handwriting is neat, precise.  (source)
    precise = meticulous (careful about details)
  • But he was mapped and surveyed, each stone and hummock noted with clear-eyed precision.  (source)
    precision = meticulousness (careful attention to detail)
    standard suffix: The suffix "-sion", converts a verb into a noun that denotes the action or result of the verb. Typically, there is a slight change in the ending of the root verb, as in admission from admit, discussion from discuss, and invasion from invade.
  • Roy's fingers trembled as he undid the precisely tied clove-hitch knots.  (source)
    precisely = carefully
  • For the last ten minutes, with a heavenly disregard for the precisions of passing time, the church bells of Haarlem had been pealing out 7:00 and now half a block away in the town square, the great bell of St. Bavo's solemnly donged seven times.†  (source)
  • The meeting was very satisfactory on each side. Miss Crawford found a sister without preciseness or rusticity, a sister's husband who looked the gentleman, and a house commodious and well fitted up; and Mrs. Grant received in those whom she hoped to love better than ever a young man and woman of very prepossessing appearance.  (source)
    preciseness = rigid concern for rules and manners
    standard suffix: The suffix "-ness" converts an adjective to a noun that means the quality of. This is the same pattern you see in words like darkness, kindness, and coolness.
  • "What you need to learn, children," she always said, in her resonant, precise voice, "is the difference between right and wrong in every area of life."  (source)
    precise = meticulously proper
  • I confess, our rigor and precision wearies me at times.  (source)
    precision = meticulousness (careful attention to detail)
  • "You have forgotten your place, nymph. I am a daughter of Zeus. Perhaps I cannot strike directly at your son, but the Fates say nothing about what I can do to you." She set the words in the room precisely as stones in a mosaic.  (source)
    precisely = meticulously
  • She was simply bringing to the Komsomol the same unwavering enthusiasm and precise attention to detail that she had brought to the mathematics of Professor Lisitsky.  (source)
    precise = meticulous
  • You'll be good at ironing. You like precision and clean lines.  (source)
    precision = attention to detail
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