Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adverb In a precise manner.
  • adverb Used as an intensive.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • In a precise or exact manner; accurately; definitely; exactly; just
  • With strict conformity to rule; punctiliously; nicely; with over-scrupulous exactness in ceremony or behavior.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adverb manner In a precise manner; exactly.
  • adverb focus Used to provide emphasis

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adverb in a precise manner
  • adverb just as it should be
  • adverb indicating exactness or preciseness

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

precise +‎ -ly

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Examples

  • Well, then, you shall be married precisely -- _precisely_, now mind!

    Journeys Through Bookland, Vol. 6 Charles Herbert Sylvester

  • Agreeing with commenter YS, and being a fan of jazz, I would bet that an author that much in love with both America and jazz would choose the term precisely for its resonance with many older readers.

    The Volokh Conspiracy » Vasily Aksyonov, RIP: 2009

  • And it's such a terrible thing that we have to be careful to use the term precisely, because otherwise it could lead to our taking rape less seriously.

    Ferule & Fescue Flavia 2009

  • And it's such a terrible thing that we have to be careful to use the term precisely, because otherwise it could lead to our taking rape less seriously.

    Archive 2009-09-01 Flavia 2009

  • Enthusiasts and critics alike embrace the term precisely because it advances the argument that the Augmented is the Other - and either an aspiration or a nightmare, as a result.

    "MAIN" via Steve in Google Reader 2010

  • And as the definition of 'progressive' is a pet topic of mine, I think lefties should define the term precisely before debating whether something fits the term.

    politicalbetting.com 2010

  • People complain that other social sciences and humanities are not precise enough, and then object when we wish to use a term precisely!

    What do we mean by ‘computer game’? 2007

  • She could read his expression precisely: It said, I told you not to trust Schiller.

    Water Song Suzanne Weyn 2006

  • She could read his expression precisely: It said, I told you not to trust Schiller.

    Water Song Suzanne Weyn 2006

  • Neither label precisely describes the strange hybrid that now purports to run the country but many Zimbabweans both in and outside the country must be finding it hard to come to terms with the notion of sharing power with the very same people who were intent on beating your brains out yesterday.

    News 2009

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