vague If something is vague, it’s not clearly explained. This word is used when someone is unsure of what another person means, says, or does. - The teacher said the student’s answer was vague.
- You’re being too vague. What exactly do you mean?
- She gave kind of a vague answer when I asked her to tell me where she was going.
- The police have a vague idea of who committed the crime.
- He bears a vague resemblance to his grandfather. (He looks a little like his grandfather.)
The word "vaguely" is an adverb: - He vaguely resembles his grandfather.
- Maria was vaguely aware of her surroundings when she woke up out of a coma.
- You look vaguely familiar. (This is a common expression. It means that I’ve seen you somewhere or I have met you some time before.)
The word "vagueness" is a noun: - The professor is well known for his vagueness.
- The vagueness of the test results required the scientists to redo their work.

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