accurate

adjective

ac·​cu·​rate ˈa-kyə-rət 

ˈa-k(ə-)rət

1

: free from error especially as the result of care

an accurate diagnosis

2

: conforming exactly to truth or to a standard : exact

providing accurate color

3

: able to give an accurate result

an accurate gauge

4

: going to, reaching, or hitting the intended target : not missing the target

an accurate shot/kick

The next play, Johnson fielded a sharp grounder and made an accurate throw to first.

—Joe Smith

5

: tending to hit the intended target

an accurate free-throw shooter

accurateness

ˈa-kyə-rət-nəs 

ˈa-k(ə-)rət-nəs

noun

Synonyms

• bang on [chiefly British]
• correct
• dead-on
• exact
• good
• on-target
• precise
• proper
• right
• so
• spot-on
• true
• veracious

Choose the Right Synonym for accurate

correct, accurate, exact, precise, nice, right mean conforming to fact, standard, or truth.

correct usually implies freedom from fault or error.

correct answers

socially correct dress

accurate implies fidelity to fact or truth attained by exercise of care.

an accurate description

exact stresses a very strict agreement with fact, standard, or truth.

exact measurements

precise adds to exact an emphasis on sharpness of definition or delimitation.

precise calibration

nice stresses great precision and delicacy of adjustment or discrimination.

makes nice distinctions

right is close to correct but has a stronger positive emphasis on conformity to fact or truth rather than mere absence of error or fault.

the right thing to do

Examples of accurate in a Sentence

The model is accurate down to the tiniest details.

Her novel is historically accurate.

The machines were not yet accurate enough to give useful results.

Recent Examples on the Web

Switch to Visible by Verizon Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time. —Kasey Caminiti, USA TODAY, 8 Dec. 2024

By seeking a forensic examination to access text messages and metadata, the plaintiffs aimed to move beyond potentially unreliable screenshots to establish a full and accurate picture of the communications, and the court agreed. —Lars Daniel, Forbes, 6 Dec. 2024

That effort gave the workers a map of the building, accurate to the width of a pencil eraser. —Michael Kimmelman, New York Times, 6 Dec. 2024

Intellectualizing aside, the explanation that will probably feel the most accurate to fans is a brief one buried midway through the movie. —Jordan Runtagh, People.com, 6 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin accūrātus "prepared with care, studied, meticulous," from past participle of accūrāre "to give attention to, do carefully," from ad- ad- + cūrāre "to watch over, care for" — more at cure entry 2

First Known Use

circa 1599, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

accurate

adjective

ac·​cu·​rate ˈak-yə-rət 

1

: free from mistakes especially as the result of care

an accurate count

2

: agreeing exactly with truth or a standard

an accurate copy

3

: able to give an accurate result

an accurate gauge

accurately

-yə-rət-lē 

-yərt-

adverb

accurateness

-nəs 

noun

Etymology

from Latin accuratus "accurate," from accurare "to take care of," from ac-, ad- "to" and cura "care" — related to cure, curious see Word History at cure