vaguely

American  

[veyg-lee] / ˈveɪg li /

adverb

1. in a way that is unclear, imprecise, or uncertain: The sound was vaguely familiar, but she couldn't identify it.

   They've been talking vaguely about maybe buying a house there one of these days.

   The sound was vaguely familiar, but she couldn't identify it.

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Other Word Forms

• unvaguely adverb

Etymology

Origin of vaguely

vague ( def. ) + -ly

Example Sentences

The grammatical solecism of the title isn’t the only vaguely—or not so vaguely—irksome element of “The Disappear,” a new play written and directed by Erica Schmidt being presented at the Minetta Lane Theatre.

From The Wall Street Journal

“No secrets,” I said vaguely, hoping she’d leave it at that.

From Literature

So if you find yourself standing in front of your cabinets, drafting rules that feel overly strict, incomplete or vaguely panic-inducing, consider loosening your grip just a touch.

From Salon

When Valerie demanded to know where the person they detained lived, she said, an agent vaguely motioned at a nearby apartment building.

From Los Angeles Times

So he decides to keep appearing in clubs to tell tales of his relationship woes, lacing the commentary with rueful remarks that are vaguely comic, though nothing he says is actually funny.

From The Wall Street Journal