roughly

adverb B2 Neutral

Meaning

"Roughly" is used to indicate an approximation or an estimate, suggesting that the information is not exact but close enough to be useful.

💡 A common mistake is using "roughly" in contexts where precision is required; it is meant for approximations only.

Example Sentences

How many people attended the event roughly last night ?

It will take roughly two hours to finish the project .

The project will take roughly three months to complete .

The project will take roughly three weeks to complete .

Word in Context

I arrived at the small caf é near the station and chose a seat by the window because I wanted to watch the street . The morning felt calm and the barista said the coffee would be ready roughly five minutes after I ordered . While I waited , I checked my messages and noticed that my friend had been delayed , so we agreed to meet later . When the coffee arrived , it was warm and strong enough to wake me up , and I paid before heading out to catch the next train .

Common Phrases

roughly speaking roughly equivalent roughly estimated

Synonyms

Related Words

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