perfectly

adverb

per·​fect·​ly ˈpər-fik(t)-lē How to pronounce perfectly (audio)
Synonyms of perfectlynext
1
: in a perfect manner
2
: to a complete or adequate extent : quite
was perfectly happy until now

Synonyms of perfectly

Relevance
See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of perfectly in a Sentence

The steak was perfectly cooked. you did that handspring perfectly on your first try
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.
Every part of the house, perfectly preserved and open to the public, was intended to dazzle. — Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 4 Sep. 2026 The salt flats are a big, unwieldy space to navigate, but the feeling of getting lost on them (with a guide who knows their way perfectly) is a real treat. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Sep. 2026 The incident perfectly illustrates widespread disillusionment with the use of generative AI and how radioactive the topic has become. — Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 3 Sep. 2026 Instead of trying to perfectly predict the market, focus on what’s within your budget now. — Faith Wakefield, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for perfectly

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of perfectly was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing perfectly

Rhymes for perfectly

See All Rhymes for perfectly

Browse Nearby Words

perfectivize
perfectly
perfectness
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Perfectly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/perfectly. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

perfectly

adverb
per·​fect·​ly ˈpər-fik-(t)lē How to pronounce perfectly (audio)
1
: in a perfect manner
understand perfectly
2
: quite sense 1, altogether
I was perfectly willing
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of gist

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All