Word forms: comparative vaguer, superlative vaguest
1. adjective
If something written or spoken is vague, it does not explain or express things clearly.
A lot of the talk was apparently vague and general.
The description was pretty vague.
...vague information.
vaguelyadverb
'I'm not sure,' Liz said vaguely.
They issued a vaguely worded statement.
Synonyms: roughly, loosely, indefinitely, carelessly More Synonyms of vague
Synonyms: absent-mindedly, evasively, abstractedly, obscurely More Synonyms of vague
Synonyms: slightly, rather, sort of [informal], kind of [informal] More Synonyms of vague
vaguenessuncountable noun
...the vagueness of the language in the text. [+ of]
Synonyms: absent-mindedness, abstraction, forgetfulness, confusion More Synonyms of vague
Synonyms: impreciseness, ambiguity, obscurity, looseness More Synonyms of vague
2. adjective
If you have a vague memory or idea of something, the memory or idea is not clear.
They have only a vague idea of the amount of water available.
Waite's memory of that first meeting was vague.
vaguelyadverb [ADVERB with verb]
Judith could vaguely remember her mother lying on the sofa.
Synonyms: roughly, loosely, indefinitely, carelessly More Synonyms of vague
Synonyms: absent-mindedly, evasively, abstractedly, obscurely More Synonyms of vague
Synonyms: slightly, rather, sort of [informal], kind of [informal] More Synonyms of vague
3. adjective
If you are vague about something, you deliberately do not tell people much about it.
He was vague, however, about just what U.S. forces might actually do. [+ about]
Democratic leaders under election pressure tend to respond with vague promises ofaction.
Christopher's answer was deliberately vague.
Synonyms: imprecise, unspecified, generalized, rough More Synonyms of vague
4. adjective
If you describe someone as vague, you mean that they do not seem to be thinking clearly.
She had married a charming but rather vague Englishman.
His eyes were always so vague when he looked at her.
Synonyms: absent-minded, absorbed, abstracted, distracted More Synonyms of vague
vaguelyadverb [ADVERB with verb]
He looked vaguely around the room as he spoke, his mind elsewhere.
Synonyms: roughly, loosely, indefinitely, carelessly More Synonyms of vague
Synonyms: absent-mindedly, evasively, abstractedly, obscurely More Synonyms of vague
Synonyms: slightly, rather, sort of [informal], kind of [informal] More Synonyms of vague
vaguenessuncountable noun
...a girl wandering in the blissful vagueness of someone in love.
Synonyms: absent-mindedness, abstraction, forgetfulness, confusion More Synonyms of vague
5. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
If something such as a feeling is vague, you experience it only slightly.
He was conscious of that vague feeling of irritation again.
He had a vague impression of rain pounding on the packed earth.
6. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
A vague shape or outline is not clear and is therefore not easy to see.
He looked at her vague shape through the frosted glass.
The bus was a vague shape in the distance.
Synonyms: indistinct, blurred, unclear, dim More Synonyms of vague
pragmatics note: vaguenessIn this dictionary, the label vagueness indicates that you use the word or expression to show lack of certainty. People oftenuse vague language to make statements 'softer', so that what they say does not appeartoo direct or too strongly stated. Examples of vague language are presumably..., Do you know what I mean?, kind of..., and sort of... .
More Synonyms of vague
vague in British English
(veɪɡ)
adjective
1.
(of statements, meaning, etc) not explicit; imprecise
vague promises
2.
not clearly perceptible or discernible; indistinct
a vague idea
a vague shape
3.
not clearly or definitely established or known
a vague rumour
4.
(of a person or his or her expression) demonstrating lack of precision or clear thinking; absent-minded
Derived forms
vaguely (ˈvaguely)
adverb
vagueness (ˈvagueness)
noun
Word origin
C16: via French from Latin vagus wandering, of obscure origin
vague in American English
(veɪg)
adjectiveWord forms: ˈvaguer or ˈvaguest
1.
not clearly, precisely, or definitely expressed or stated
2.
indefinite in shape, form, or character; hazily or indistinctly seen or sensed
3.
not sharp, certain, or precise in thought, feeling, or expression
vague in his answers, a vague hope
4.
not precisely determined or known; uncertain
SIMILAR WORDS: obˈscure
Derived forms
vaguely (ˈvaguely)
adverb
vagueness (ˈvagueness)
noun
Word origin
Fr < L vagus, wandering < IE *wag-, to be bent, prob. < base *wā- > vacillate
Examples of 'vague' in a sentence
vague
You have a vague idea where you're heading.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Often the next destination is kept secret for security reasons, so tutors will have only a vague idea where they will wake up the next day.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
I, and most of my friends, had stayed inside that night with a vague feeling that it would be safer to do so.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
You are focused and efficient and can turn vague ideas into a smart action plan.
The Sun (2011)
Those that did gave vague answers which made us suspicious.
The Sun (2014)
Why then this feeling of vague disappointment?
Tepper, Sheri S. A Plague of Angels (1993)
Physical and mental energy return so you turn vague ideas into bold action.
The Sun (2009)
Or are we just experiencing a vague feeling of contentment?
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
My wife had a vague idea that it would be fun to look for properties.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
He offered only a vague idea of when they will meet.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Happy Days is just a vague memory.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
As she turned into the side street, a vague memory stirred in her.
Edith Wharton The House of Mirth (1905)
In answer, he may be told something as vague as to consult his dignity.
The Times Literary Supplement (2010)
In love you are ready to get and give sincere answers, not vague promises.
The Sun (2016)
But there are not a few who feel a vague something repulsive in the hand of a man who is growing a beast.
George MacDonald The Princess and the Curdie (1883)
As usual, he looks rumpled, vague.
Oxenhorn, Harvey Tuning the Rig: A Journey to the Arctic (1990)
I had some vague memory of being asked to share a few thoughts with the group, but no recollection of being asked to speak or preach.
Christianity Today (2000)
In other languages
vague
British English: vague /veɪɡ/ ADJECTIVE
If something is vague, it is not clear, distinct, or definite.
The description was pretty vague.
American English: vague
Arabic: مُبْهَم
Brazilian Portuguese: vago
Chinese: 含糊的
Croatian: nejasan
Czech: neurčitý nejasný
Danish: vag
Dutch: vaag
European Spanish: impreciso
Finnish: epämääräinen
French: vague peu clair
German: vage
Greek: ασαφής
Italian: vago
Japanese: 曖昧な
Korean: 막연한
Norwegian: vag
Polish: niesprecyzowany
European Portuguese: vago
Romanian: vag
Russian: неясный
Latin American Spanish: impreciso
Swedish: vag
Thai: คลุมเครือ
Turkish: belirsiz
Ukrainian: невизначений
Vietnamese: không rõ ràng
All related terms of 'vague'
vague idea
An idea is a plan, suggestion , or possible course of action.
vague sense
If you have a sense that something is the case, you think that it is the case, although you may not have firm , clear evidence for this belief.
vague notion
A notion is an idea or belief about something.
vague promise
A promise is a statement which you make to a person in which you say that you will definitely do something or give them something.
Nouvelle Vague
rock music of the late 1970s, related to punk but more complex : sometimes used to include punk
vague memories
A memory is something that you remember from the past .
the New Wave
a movement in the French cinema of the 1960s, led by such directors as Godard , Truffaut , and Resnais , characterized by a fluid use of the camera and an abandonment of traditional editing techniques