Synonyms

vaguely

American

[veyg-lee] / ˈveɪg li /

adverb

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.

Other Word Forms

unvaguely adverb

Etymology

Origin of vaguely

vague ( def. ) + -ly

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Expect a dark, deep and vaguely disturbing ride.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 31, 2026

In the event, the US president described them as "friends" and vaguely praised Tokyo for "really stepping up to the plate".

From BBC • Mar. 20, 2026

Anything that’s old, spoiled, crusted over, or vaguely suspect can go — no second-guessing required.

From Salon • Mar. 19, 2026

But the installation is vaguely thematic, not chronological.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 28, 2026

There was a lake of perfectly clipped grass and, across the lake, an ivory-tinted building I vaguely recognized as Greco-Roman.

From "Educated" by Tara Westover

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023