Meaning & use
vague
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Meanings
adjectivecomparable
Not clearly expressed, stated, or defined; lacking precise detail.
Grammar: After linking verbs (the answer was vague) or before nouns (a vague answer); often followed by about: vague about the cost.
Patterns
- vague about something
- a vague answer
- a vague description
- a vague idea
The teacher's instructions were too vague, so we asked for examples.
He's always vague about how much he earns.
The report gives only a vague idea of the total cost.
adjectivecomparable
Not clearly seen, heard, or remembered; hazy in shape or in the mind.
Grammar: Before nouns of perception: a vague shape, a vague memory.
Patterns
- a vague shape
- a vague memory
- a vague recollection
- a vague feeling
I could see a vague shape moving behind the curtain.
I have only a vague memory of visiting this beach as a child.
A vague feeling of worry stayed with her all day.
Word forms
| comparative | vaguer |
|---|---|
| superlative | vaguest |
Common combinations
- vague idea
- I have a vague idea of what the word means, but I can't define it.
- vague answer
- His answer was so vague that nobody was satisfied.
- vague description
- The witness could only give police a vague description of the man.
- vaguely remember
- I vaguely remember meeting her at a conference years ago.
Synonyms and how they differ
- unclear
- More general; it describes anything not easy to understand or see, including vague things.
- imprecise
- A neutral word for lacking exactness, often about figures or measurements; it sounds less critical than vague.
- hazy
- Best for unclear memories, shapes, or ideas; it suggests a soft blur rather than missing information.
- indefinite
- Not fixed or decided; describes plans, answers, or time periods that have no firm limit.
Opposites
Word family
- vaguely adverb
- In a vague way: she answered vaguely.
- vagueness noun
- The quality of being unclear or lacking detail.
Commonly confused: vague or ambiguous? vague or vogue?
vague vs ambiguous
An ambiguous statement can be understood in two different ways; a vague statement simply lacks detail. Vague criticizes missing information, while ambiguous criticizes a double meaning.
vague vs vogue
Vogue means fashion or popularity; the similar spelling confuses learners, but the two words differ in both meaning and pronunciation.
Practice
His answer was so ___ that the interviewer still didn't know his opinion.
Choose one answer.
If the interviewer still learned nothing, the answer lacked detail, so it was vague. Precise is the opposite of what is needed, and obvious and frequent do not describe a lack of information.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “vague”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.