rough
gb/ɹˈʌf/ us/ɹˈʌf/
A2
English
~ 2500
Senses
0 senses
adjective
A2
property
1
Uneven or coarse in texture
Not smooth; having a surface with small high parts and low parts.
Usage pattern:
[something] is rough
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'rough' with 'tough'; 'tough' refers to strength or difficulty, not texture.
Synonyms
coarse (Implies a more grainy or crude texture, often used for fabrics or manners.)
Antonyms
smooth (Describes a surface without bumps or irregularities.)
Collocations
rough surface
|rough skin
|rough texture
|rough edge
Themes
daily life
|materials
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The table's surface felt rough under my fingers.
- His hands were rough from years of hard work.
- Be careful, the metal has a rough edge.
- The road was rough and full of potholes.
Learner examples
- The wall is rough.
- Her hands are rough.
- The ground is rough here.
- This paper feels rough.
adjective
B1
property
2
Difficult or unpleasant situation or time
Hard or unpleasant to experience.
Usage pattern:
a rough [day/time/period]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'rough' with 'tough' here; while similar in some contexts, 'rough' often focuses on discomfort rather than resilience.
Synonyms
hard (A general term for something not easy to do or endure.)
Antonyms
easy (Describes something that is not difficult to experience.)
Collocations
rough day
|rough time
|rough start
Themes
emotions
|daily life
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She’s had a rough week at work.
- It was a rough start to the season.
- He went through a rough patch after losing his job.
Learner examples
- I had a rough day.
- He is going through a rough time.
- It was a rough night for me.
adjective
B1
property
3
Not exact; approximate
Close to the correct number, amount, or idea, but not exact.
Usage pattern:
a rough [idea/estimate/number]
Common mistake:
Learners may think 'rough' means 'bad' here; it refers to lack of detail, not poor quality.
Synonyms
approximate (More formal; used in technical or precise contexts.)
Antonyms
exact (Fully accurate and detailed.)
Collocations
rough estimate
|rough idea
|rough calculation
Themes
measurement
|communication
|education
|science
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- I can give you a rough estimate of the cost.
- He sketched a rough outline of the plan.
- That’s just a rough guess, not the final figure.
Learner examples
- This is a rough number.
- I have a rough idea about the plan.
- We made a rough map.
adjective
B1
property
4
Harsh or violent in action
Strong and not gentle; may hurt someone or something.
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] is rough with [someone/something]
Synonyms
harsh (Can refer to both physical and non-physical severity; 'rough' here is more physical.)
Antonyms
gentle (Careful and soft in touch or action.)
Collocations
play rough
|rough handling
Themes
sports
|behavior
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The players were getting rough on the field.
- Don’t be so rough with the puppy.
- He gave me a rough shove as he passed.
Learner examples
- The boys play rough.
- He is rough with his dog.
- She pushed me in a rough way.
Noun
B2
entity
5
Long grass area on golf course
On a golf course, an area with long grass that is harder to hit the ball from.
Synonyms
long grass area (golf) (A descriptive phrase used instead of the golf term.)
Collocations
hit into the rough
Themes
sports
Examples
- His ball landed in the rough.
- She struggled to get out of the rough on her second shot.
- Avoid hitting into the rough if you can.
Learner examples
- The ball is in the rough.
- I hit my ball into the rough.
- It is hard to play in the rough.
Grammar
Dictionary form
rough
IPA
GB/ɹˈʌf/
US/ɹˈʌf/
Syllables & stress
rough (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (rough)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: rough
- Comparative: rougher
- Superlative: roughest
Word family
Expressions
in the rough
1/ˈɪn ðə ɹˈʌf/
fixed phrase
In an unfinished state
Not finished or prepared; in its natural form.
Examples
- The diamond was found in the rough before being cut and polished.
- His talent is still in the rough but shows great promise.
play rough
1/plˈeɪ ɹˈʌf/
fixed phrase
Play aggressively in sports/games
To play in a way that is strong and may hurt others, especially in games or sports.
Examples
- The kids were playing rough in the backyard.
- Some players like to play rough to intimidate opponents.
rough around the edges
1/ɹˈʌf ɚˈaʊnd ðə ˈɛd͡ʒɪz/
idiom
informal
Good overall but with small faults
Having some small problems or faults but still good in general.
Examples
- He’s a bit rough around the edges but has a good heart.
- The house is rough around the edges but very solid.
rough it
1/ɹˈʌf ˈɪt/
idiom
informal
Live without usual comforts for a while
To live without usual things like electricity, comfortable beds, or good food for a short time.
Examples
- We had to rough it during our camping trip.
- They roughed it in a small cabin with no running water.
take the rough with the smooth
1/tˈeɪk ðə ɹˈʌf wˈɪθ ðə smˈuð/
idiom
Accept good and bad together
Accept both good and bad parts of life or a situation without complaint.
Examples
- In this job you have to take the rough with the smooth.
- Marriage means taking the rough with the smooth.