🔍 牛津詞典
🔍 朗文詞典
🔍 劍橋詞典
🔍 柯林斯詞典
🔍 麥美倫詞典
🔍 韋氏詞典 🎯

檢索以下詞典：
(Mr. Ng 不推薦使用 Google 翻譯！)
最近搜尋：
TOEFL BNC: 4265 COCA: 4885

vague

adjective

ˈvāg How to pronounce vague (audio)
vaguer; vaguest
1
a
: not clearly expressed : stated in indefinite terms
vague accusations
b
: not having a precise meaning
a vague term of abuse
2
a
: not clearly defined, grasped, or understood : indistinct
only a vague notion of what's needed
also : slight
a vague hint of a thickening waistline
hasn't the vaguest idea
b
: not clearly felt or sensed : somewhat subconscious
a vague longing
3
: not thinking or expressing one's thoughts clearly or precisely
vague about dates and places
4
: lacking expression : vacant
vague eyes
a vague stare
5
: not sharply outlined : hazy
met by vague figures with shaded torchlights Earle Birney
vagueness noun

Synonyms

Choose the Right Synonym for vague

obscure, dark, vague, enigmatic, cryptic, ambiguous, equivocal mean not clearly understandable.

obscure implies a hiding or veiling of meaning through some inadequacy of expression or withholding of full knowledge.

obscure poems

dark implies an imperfect or clouded revelation often with ominous or sinister suggestion.

muttered dark hints of revenge

vague implies a lack of clear formulation due to inadequate conception or consideration.

a vague sense of obligation

enigmatic stresses a puzzling, mystifying quality.

enigmatic occult writings

cryptic implies a purposely concealed meaning.

cryptic hints of hidden treasure

ambiguous applies to language capable of more than one interpretation.

an ambiguous directive

equivocal applies to language left open to differing interpretations with the intention of deceiving or evading.

moral precepts with equivocal phrasing

Example Sentences

When my three years of military service ended, I looked around for some way to get to spend time in rural Vietnam as a civilian. The driving force was still primarily intellectual curiosity, along with a desire to improve my language ability in a non-Western language and some vague idea of doing folkloristic or literary studies in the future. Neil L. Jamieson, Understanding Vietnam, (1993) 1995 There are vague memories in our souls of those misty centuries when the world was in its childhood. Arthur Conan Doyle, A Study in Scarlet, 1887 At the end of half an hour Tom had a vague general idea of his lesson, but no more, for his mind was traversing the whole field of human thought, and his hands were busy with distracting recreations. Mark Twain, Tom Sawyer, 1876 It thrilled him with a vague uncertain horror, to know that behind the dusky shroud, there were ghostly eyes intently fixed upon him, while he, though he stretched his own to the utmost, could see nothing but a spectral hand and one great heap of black. Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol, 1843 The instructions she left were vague and difficult to follow. He gave only a vague answer. The judges determined that the law was too vague to be fairly enforced. She has been vague about her plans for college. We had only a vague idea of where we were. I think I have a vague understanding of how it works. He longed in some vague way for something different. She felt a vague sense of uneasiness when she was around him. I had the vague impression that they were withholding information. We could just barely make out the vague outline of a plane in the sky. See More
Recent Examples on the Web Still, the Texas law's vague terminology complicates physicians' ability to determine what's legally permissible care, said Joanna Grossman, a professor at SMU Dedman School of Law. Charlotte Huff, CBS News, 16 Sep. 2022 Often our ideas about the future are fuzzy or vague. Rachel Goslins, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Sep. 2022 China has tried to balance those interests by keeping its commitments vague. Keith Zhai, WSJ, 15 Sep. 2022 The rest of Biden’s agenda reads like a vague wish list best suited for the campaign trail. Jacob Carpenter, Fortune, 9 Sep. 2022 Buzz factor: Anyone with a vague awareness of Hollywood knows that superhero movies are all the rage. Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 9 Sep. 2022 After becoming familiar with the new policy, email your school board members with your questions and concerns, specifically asking for clarification about parts that are unclear or vague. Kristen Mei Chase, Washington Post, 9 Sep. 2022 Coke recently debuted new drinks with vague descriptions and let fans fill in the blanks. Alexandra Meeks, CNN, 8 Sep. 2022 Tebo 1's skeleton may offer a clue, albeit a vague one: The shape of the right collarbone suggests a lifetime of repetitive circular movements with the right shoulder. Kiona N. Smith, Ars Technica, 7 Sep. 2022 See More

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French, going back to Middle French, going back to Old French, "wandering, vagabond," borrowed from Latin vagus "moving freely, wandering," perhaps akin to Old High German wankōn "to totter, stagger," winkan "to waver, stagger, wink," Old English wincian "to close the eyes" — more at wink entry 1

First Known Use

circa 1661, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of vague was circa 1661

Phrases Containing vague

👨🏻‍🏫 Mr. Ng 韋氏詞典 📚 – mw.mister5️⃣.net
切換為繁體中文
Site Uptime