Roughly Meaning
Roughly Definition & Usage
To a degree or in a way that is not exact; approximately or roughly.
Examples
- "The event will start roughly at 3 PM, but we expect some delays."
- "The painting is roughly five feet wide, though exact dimensions haven't been confirmed."
- "She ran roughly twenty miles before reaching the checkpoint."
- "There are roughly 100 guests expected at the reception tonight."
- "The trip takes roughly two hours depending on traffic."
In a way that is rough or uneven in texture or quality.
Examples
- "The road was roughly paved, making the drive uncomfortable."
- "Her handwriting was roughly done, with some letters barely legible."
- "The wood felt roughly carved, with jagged edges sticking out."
- "He handled the object roughly, causing it to crack under the pressure."
- "The fabric was roughly woven, not like the fine silk I had expected."
With abruptness, harshness, or lack of care.
Examples
- "The captain barked orders roughly at the crew."
- "He pushed the door open roughly, causing the hinges to groan."
- "She took the book from his hands roughly, clearly frustrated."
- "The workers were instructed to handle the machinery roughly to get it started."
- "He answered the question roughly, as though impatient with the inquiry."
Cultural Context
The word 'roughly' is a versatile adverb used to convey approximation, rough texture, or unrefined handling of tasks. It is commonly used in everyday English, especially in both casual conversations and more technical contexts. It dates back to Middle English, from the word 'rough' (with its variations in spelling), signifying things that are not smooth or are coarse.
The Rough Edge of Estimates
Story
The Rough Edge of Estimates
It was a busy Thursday morning in the small but tightly-knit town of Smithton. Emma had just received an email from her supervisor, Michael, about the upcoming launch of a new store branch in the neighboring city. She knew it was going to be a challenge—detailed preparation was required for the grand opening. As she sat down at her desk, scanning over the layout sketches, her mind wandered to the many rough estimates she'd been asked to make in the past few weeks. With construction only a week away, the estimates she'd prepared for furniture sizes and shipping times could not be exact, especially with so many variables involved. Michael had warned her beforehand that no one would have precise numbers, but the decision needed to be made anyway. “Roughly 50 square feet,” she muttered under her breath as she glanced at the conference room. She scribbled something on the piece of paper with a feeling of unease. Approximations worked for now, but Emma knew full well she would need more detailed numbers as the opening date approached. Until then, she decided, 'roughly' would have to suffice. Later, in a team meeting, the stress of decisions and deadlines started to take its toll. When Michael asked her for a projection on how many attendees they might expect at the store’s opening, she gave her standard reply: “Roughly 200, but we can’t say for sure.” She knew his expression—he wasn’t thrilled. “What’s the floor plan roughly?” he asked, and again, she had to rely on her best approximation. A quick discussion moved from numbers to operational concerns, like staffing for the first day. He began barking out instructions roughly, a directness Emma appreciated under the pressure, but she found herself becoming more frazzled by the minute. Was every aspect of this launch going to be handled this hastily? Finally, by mid-afternoon, Emma realized that whether things felt rough or were in need of more refinement, she had done her best. As she locked up for the night, she took a final look at the plans. They weren’t perfect yet, but they were close. She gave her calculations a last glance and made a mental note to confirm the details the next morning. Sometimes, in business, you can’t be exact, but a 'rough' estimate gets things moving until you have the full picture.
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