- 1 clear and accurate synonym exact precise details/instructions/measurements Can you give a more precise definition of the word? I can be reasonably precise about the time of the incident. Oxford Collocations Dictionary verbsbe, become, make something, … adverbextremely, incredibly, infinitely, … prepositionabout, in See full entry
- 2 [only before noun] used to emphasize that something happens at a particular time or in a particular way We were just talking about her when, at that precise moment, she walked in. Doctors found it hard to establish the precise nature of her illness.
- 3 taking care to be exact and accurate, especially about small details synonym meticulous a skilled and precise worker small, precise movements (disapproving) She's rather prim and precise. Oxford Collocations Dictionary verbsbe, become, make something, … adverbextremely, incredibly, infinitely, … prepositionabout, in See full entry Word Originlate Middle English: from Old French prescis, from Latin praecis- ‘cut short’, from the verb praecidere, from prae ‘in advance’ + caedere ‘to cut’.Extra examples Are the measurements precise enough? These estimates will become more precise. We’ve tried to make the process as precise as possible. You have to be precise about the numbers. You need to use legally precise terms. to be more precise in my analysis It measures 3.4 metres, to be precise. Please give precise details about your previous experience. She was reasonably precise about the time of the incident. We were just talking about her when, at that precise moment, she walked in. We will need a more precise description of the accommodation.Idioms
used to show that you are giving more detailed and accurate information about something you have just mentioned The shelf is about a metre long—well, 98cm, to be precise.
Check pronunciation: precise
