roughly

roughly — adverb

1. used when stating a number, amount, or time that is not exact but is close enoug

1.adverbB1
Definition

used when stating a number, amount, or time that is not exact but is close enough to be a fair estimate of the real figure

Example

The journey from London to Manchester takes roughly three hours by train.

roughly + time duration

Roughly two hundred people gathered in the town square for the festival.

Common collocations
  • roughly the same
  • roughly equivalent to
  • roughly equal
  • roughly half
  • roughly a third
Synonyms
  • approximately

    slightly more formal than 'roughly'; preferred in academic and professional writing

  • about

    more common in everyday speech; slightly less precise-sounding than 'roughly'

  • around

    informal; often used with round numbers and time expressions

Antonyms
  • exactly

    indicates perfect precision, the opposite of an estimate

Grammar Patterns

roughly + number/amount

roughly + time period

Usage Note

Commonly placed before numbers, amounts, or time expressions. More informal than 'approximately' but acceptable in most writing.

Common Mistakes

It costs roughly to $50.
It costs roughly $50.
'roughly' goes directly before the number without 'to'.
Roughly it takes three hours.
It takes roughly three hours.
'roughly' typically comes right before the figure it modifies.

2. done without concern for a smooth or even finish; marked by a lack of attention

2.adverbB2
Definition

done without concern for a smooth or even finish; marked by a lack of attention to precision or fine detail in the making or shaping of something

Example

The old cabin was built with roughly cut logs that still had bark on them.

Salma sketched the map roughly on a napkin, showing only the main streets.

roughly + past participle (roughly sketched)

Common collocations
  • roughly cut
  • roughly chopped
  • roughly made
  • roughly carved
  • roughly paved
  • roughly finished
Synonyms
  • crudely

    stronger negative connotation; suggests the result is poorly made, not just unfinished

  • coarsely

    often used with grinding, chopping, or textile-related actions

  • unevenly

    focuses on the irregular surface or result rather than the method

Antonyms
  • smoothly

    describes an even, polished surface or result

  • finely

    indicates careful, detailed work

Grammar Patterns

roughly + past participle (e.g. roughly cut, roughly made)

Usage Note

Frequently combines with past participles of verbs describing making, cutting, or shaping (roughly made, roughly finished, roughly dressed). The focus is on the lack of a refined or smooth finish.

Common Mistakes

He roughly cut the vegetables and the pieces were uneven.
He roughly chopped the vegetables into uneven pieces.
'roughly cut' is acceptable but 'roughly chopped' is far more idiomatic in cooking contexts.

3. in a harsh way that involves physical force or aggressive treatment, showing no

3.adverbB2
Definition

in a harsh way that involves physical force or aggressive treatment, showing no gentleness or concern for the other person

Example

The security guard grabbed the teenager roughly by the arm and led him away.

Haruto was pushed roughly to the ground during the chaos outside the stadium.

Common collocations
  • treated roughly
  • grabbed roughly
  • pushed roughly
  • handled roughly
  • shoved roughly
  • slammed roughly
Synonyms
  • violently

    stronger; implies intent to cause harm or injury, not just lack of gentleness

  • harshly

    broader; can describe both physical treatment and words or tone

  • forcefully

    more neutral; suggests use of strength without necessarily implying unfairness

Antonyms
  • gently

    describes careful, soft, or kind treatment

  • kindly

    emphasises positive intentions in how someone is treated

Grammar Patterns

verb + object + roughly

Usage Note

Describes actions done without care for the physical well-being of the target. Common with verbs of physical contact: push, grab, handle, treat, shove. Often carries an implication of unfair or unnecessary force.

Common Mistakes

He roughly spoke to me.
He spoke to me roughly.
'roughly' in this sense is an adverb of manner and typically follows the verb (or verb + object), not placed before it.

Word family

  • rough
    adjectiveA2
  • rough
    nounB2
  • roughness
    nounB2
  • roughen
    verbC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

All four words indicate an estimate rather than an exact figure. 'Roughly' and 'approximately' are the most neutral; 'approximately' is preferred in formal or academic writing, while 'roughly' fits both casual speech and general writing. 'About' is the most common in everyday conversation and is slightly less precise in tone — you might say 'about ten people' when you didn't count but have a general sense. 'Around' is similar to 'about' but often pairs with round numbers or rounded time frames ('around $50', 'around noon'). In practice, 'roughly $200' and 'approximately $200' are interchangeable; the main difference is formality. For physical descriptions of surface texture (sense 2 'not carefully'), none of these work as synonyms — you would use 'crudely' or 'unevenly' instead.

roughly ↗approximately ↗about ↗around ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • roughly the same
  • roughly half
  • roughly a quarter

Phrases

  • roughly speaking
  • roughly put

Prepositions

  • roughly at
  • roughly by

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

From Middle English 'roughli', from Old English 'rūhlīce'. The root 'rough' (from Old English 'rūh', meaning coarse, hairy, or uneven) combined with the adverbial suffix '-ly'. The sense meaning 'approximately' developed in the 1600s, evolving from the idea of a 'rough' (imprecise, broad) measurement.