vaguely

adverb

vague·​ly ˈvāg-lē How to pronounce vaguely (audio)
: in a vague way: such as
a
: somewhat or slightly
He's vaguely familiar with the area.
… men on foot, dressed vaguely like janitors …A. L. Kennedy
b
: not clearly
There were grants, he explained vaguely, that had to be spent before the money went back to the federal government, so my main job was to buy lavish art books, as quickly as possible.Michael Blaine
Where once the city was a battleground for two main militias … now at least five militias claim vaguely defined pockets as their own.Jeffrey Bartholet
I've always believed closers are like girlfriends: You remember the great ones, you remember the awful ones and you vaguely remember everyone in between. (You could say the same about hockey goalies and field goal kickers.)Bill Simmons

Examples of vaguely in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Her long, dark hair was gathered in a loose bun; her filigreed, vaguely Indian earrings dangled. Leslie Camhi, Vogue, 30 Oct. 2024 Even so, informal polls are lighthearted opportunities for people to participate in something vaguely akin to an election survey, and doing so may promote popular interest in elections. W. Joseph Campbell, Fortune, 29 Oct. 2024 On a vaguely lighter note, what’s a recent moment that gave you catharsis? Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 5 Nov. 2024 Here's a look at some of Parton's vaguely political statements over the years. Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for vaguely 

Word History

First Known Use

1663, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of vaguely was in 1663

Dictionary Entries Near vaguely

Cite this Entry

“Vaguely.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vaguely. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

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