adjective

precise

prih-SYS

adjective

Exact and accurate, with no vagueness or error.

"She gave precise directions to the venue, down to the exact turn."

"The surgeon's precise movements left barely a scar."

How to Use Precise

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishExact, specific, and free of ambiguity.

Common mistake

Don't confuse with "concise" (brief) — something can be precise without being short, or short without being precise.

Easily confused with

concise →

Common pairings

precise measurements precise instructions to be more precise

Word Forms

more precise comparative, preciser comparative, precised past tense, precises singular, most precise superlative, precisest superlative

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She gave _____ directions to the venue, down to the exact turn.

Etymology

From Latin praecisus, \"cut off short,\" from prae- (\"before\") plus caedere (\"to cut\") — the idea of something trimmed down to exactly the right size.

Rhymes for precise

Ise rise wise vise Lise arise noise raise anise guise poise Elise

See all rhymes for precise →