Rigorously
/ˈrɪɡərəsli/
adverbC1adverb form
Definition
Rigorously describes an action done in a very strict, exact, and careful way. It means following rules or steps completely without missing anything and often with strong effort to be perfect or correct.
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See It in Action
Done with strict attention to rules or standards
- •The students were tested rigorously to make sure they understood the material.
- •The company follows safety procedures rigorously to avoid accidents.
- •The research was conducted rigorously to ensure accurate results.
Done with great effort and attention to detail
- •She trained rigorously every day to prepare for the marathon.
- •The inspector checked the building rigorously for any problems.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "rigorously" like "carefully," but much stronger and stricter—like following every rule exactly
- ✓Picture a scientist checking every detail in an experiment, making sure nothing is wrong or missed
- ✓It's the feeling when you study very hard and do everything perfectly for an important test
- ✓Sounds like "RIG-or-ous-ly" → imagine someone pulling a heavy "rig" (like a strong machine) to work hard with full power and control
- ✓Think of a coach making athletes practice every move with no mistakes allowed—that is rigorous training done rigorously
- ✓NOT like "quickly" or "carelessly"—rigorously means slow, exact, and careful, not fast or loose
- ✓NOT like "easily" or "casually"—it is about effort and strictness, not relaxing or simple
- ✓NOT like "roughly" (not smooth or gentle)—rigorously is about precision and control, not roughness
Try Other Words
- •Strictly: meaning with strong rules and no exceptions (Use when emphasizing following rules or laws)
- •Thoroughly: meaning completely and with full attention (Use when emphasizing completeness and detail)
- •Meticulously: meaning very detailed and precise (Use when emphasizing small details and exactness)
Unboxing
- •Prefix/root/suffix: "rigor" (strictness, severity) + "-ous" (adjective form) + "-ly" (adverb form)
- •Etymology: From Latin "rigor" meaning stiffness or strictness
- •Historical development: Originally meaning stiffness or severity in body or behavior, now used for strict or exact actions
- •Modern usage: Used to describe actions done with strong care, strictness, or exactness, often in science, work, or rules
Reflect & Connect
•How can doing something rigorously help or make a difference in your daily life?
•Can being too rigorous ever cause problems? When might it be better to be less strict?
Fill in the blanks
1.The scientist checked the data rigorously to ___ any possible mistakes.
2.Athletes train rigorously because they want to ___ their best performance.
3.Unlike casually studying, rigorously studying means paying ___ attention to every detail.
4.The company enforces rules rigorously, so employees must ___ them carefully.
5.When a teacher grades rigorously, students know they must ___ their work well.
6.Rigorously checking something means not missing anything, so ___ errors are unlikely.
7.If you do a task rigorously, you usually spend ___ time and effort on it.