roughest
roughest — verb
- roughestpresent simple I / you / we / they
- roughests3rd person singular
- roughesting-ing form
- roughestedpast simple
1. To live without modern comforts or conveniences, usually for a short time — for
To live without modern comforts or conveniences, usually for a short time — for example, while camping, travelling on a tight budget, or during a building renovation.
Rachid and his friends roughed it for a week during their hiking trip in the mountains.
rough it + for + duration
When the power went out, the family had to rough it by candlelight for three days.
rough it + by + means
Lien decided to rough it in a simple tent instead of staying at a hotel.
The explorers roughed it in basic huts with no running water.
Wren did not mind roughing it for the weekend, as long as the weather stayed warm.
- camp
more specific — implies sleeping outdoors in a tent rather than any simple living situation
- live simply
less informal and broader — does not carry the same temporary or uncomfortable feeling
- live in comfort
opposite meaning — having modern amenities and luxury
文法句型
rough + it
用法筆記
The pronoun 'it' is always required after 'rough' in this sense — it is a fixed expression and cannot be replaced with a different object.
常見錯誤
2. To create a simple, not-yet-finished version of something such as a drawing, a p
To create a simple, not-yet-finished version of something such as a drawing, a plan, or a piece of writing, showing only the main features.
Felipe roughed out a sketch of the new building's front entrance.
rough out + sketch of [thing]
The designer roughed in the basic shapes before adding fine details.
rough in + basic shapes
Emre roughed out a quick plan for the weekend project.
Gita roughed in the outline of the landscape on her canvas.
Nicholas roughed out the first chapter of his novel in a single afternoon.
文法句型
rough + out/in + object
用法筆記
Often used with the particles 'out' or 'in' — 'rough out' focuses on creating the overall structure, while 'rough in' is about placing basic elements in their approximate positions.
常見錯誤
roughest — noun
- roughestsingular
- roughestsplural
1. A simple, quick drawing that captures the main idea of something, done before th
A simple, quick drawing that captures the main idea of something, done before the more detailed final version.
Léa showed her manager a rough of the new logo design.
a rough of [something] — noun use for a sketch
The designer pinned a rough of the dress pattern onto the wall.
Before starting the real painting, the artist drew a quick rough in pencil.
Reuben showed his rough to the client before adding any colour.
- final version
the finished, detailed product after revisions
- finished piece
the completed artwork
文法句型
a rough
rough of [something]
用法筆記
Often used with verbs like 'draw', 'make', or 'show'. The phrasal verb 'rough out' has a related meaning — for example, 'Reuben roughed out the design in ten minutes.'
常見錯誤
2. An incomplete or early version of writing or a plan that is not yet in its final
An incomplete or early version of writing or a plan that is not yet in its final, exact form.
Sofia wrote her speech in rough before typing the final version.
phrase: 'in rough' — the basic/preliminary form
The team looked at the new design in rough at the morning meeting.
Trang prefers to write her ideas in rough before sharing them.
The teacher asked the class to write their answers in rough first.
- draft form
more formal; 'rough' feels more conversational
- outline
focuses on structure; 'rough' is more about unfinished quality
- first version
clear but longer
- final copy
the complete, polished version
- finished work
the end result
文法句型
in rough
in the rough
用法筆記
Almost always appears in the fixed phrase 'in rough' or 'in the rough'. Unlike sense 1 (SKETCH), this sense does not refer to a physical drawing — it describes a stage of work, especially for writing.
常見錯誤
3. A person who behaves in a threatening or violent way, often as part of a group t
A person who behaves in a threatening or violent way, often as part of a group that causes trouble in public.
A group of roughs gathered outside the stadium after the match.
usually plural: 'roughs' — a group of violent people
The shop owner asked the roughs to stop blocking the entrance.
The old port town was known for attracting roughs and sailors.
Walid told the roughs to leave the café before the police arrived.
文法句型
the roughs
a group of roughs
用法筆記
Tends to appear in older or literary British English texts. Today 'thug' or 'gang member' is more common. Almost always used in the plural form 'roughs'.
常見錯誤
4. The area of longer grass, plants, and uneven ground on a golf course that border
The area of longer grass, plants, and uneven ground on a golf course that borders the short fairway, making the ball harder to hit.
Ayana hit her golf ball into the rough on the seventh hole.
phrase: 'into the rough' — hitting the ball off the fairway
The rough on this course is full of tall grass and small bushes.
Finding the ball in the deep rough cost Trang extra shots.
The rough along the fairway was thicker after the autumn rain.
- long grass
a simple description rather than the golf term
- high grass
focuses on the height of the grass
文法句型
the rough
into the rough
in the rough
用法筆記
The opposite of the rough is the 'fairway', where the grass is cut short and the ball is easier to play. 'Deep rough' refers to the thickest, most difficult parts of the rough.
roughest — adjective
- roughestpositive
- more roughestcomparative
- most roughestsuperlative
1. having a surface that is not flat or smooth, with bumps, ridges, or an uneven te
having a surface that is not flat or smooth, with bumps, ridges, or an uneven texture that you can see or feel when you move across it
The old stone walls of the castle felt rough against Hugo's fingers.
Hassan stopped cycling because the rough trail was too bumpy for his tyres.
collocation: rough trail / rough road
Linh painted the roughest section of the wall with a thick layer of plaster.
A rough wooden table stood in the corner of the farm kitchen.
In the cave the roughest rocks had been worn smooth by water over many years.
2. having a texture that is not soft against your fingers or body, so the surface f
having a texture that is not soft against your fingers or body, so the surface feels scratchy, dry, or hard rather than pleasant, for example on skin, fabric, or paper
After gardening all day, Salma's hands felt dry and rough.
describing skin texture: feel + rough
The paper was so rough that the pencil tore tiny holes in it.
Beatrix used a rough towel to dry her hair after swimming.
Eitan's skin became rough from working outside in the cold winter wind.
The rough fabric of the old curtains scratched Henrik's arms when he touched them.
3. land that has not been cared for or levelled, with an uneven surface and many wi
land that has not been cared for or levelled, with an uneven surface and many wild plants growing on it
The children played football on the rough ground behind the school building.
collocation: rough ground
We walked across a patch of rough ground covered in tall grass and wild flowers.
Building on rough ground is expensive because you have to level it first.
Reema's garden started as rough ground full of thorns and old metal.
- uneven terrain
more formal; describes the physical condition of the land
- wilderness
emphasises that the land is natural and not managed by people
- scrubland
more specific; land with low bushes and poor soil
用法筆記
Commonly used as a noun phrase: 'rough ground' describes a specific type of land, often on the edges of towns or farms.
4. not exact, complete, or detailed; giving only a general idea of something, such
not exact, complete, or detailed; giving only a general idea of something, such as a number, time, or plan, often as a first step before a final version
The builder gave Lucía a rough estimate of two thousand dollars for the repairs.
collocation: rough estimate
Hugo drew a rough map of the area so the delivery driver could find the house.
Here is a rough plan of how the new office might be arranged.
Can you give me a rough idea of how long the repair will take?
Sven wrote a rough draft of his speech and then polished it the next day.
- approximate
more formal; used mainly for numbers and measurements
- preliminary
describes something done as a first step before the final version
- basic
emphasises simplicity rather than lack of exactness
用法筆記
Very common in set phrases such as 'rough estimate', 'rough idea', 'rough draft', and 'rough plan'. These all signal that the information is still incomplete or not final.
常見錯誤
5. having a strong, sharp, and unpleasant taste, especially describing inexpensive
having a strong, sharp, and unpleasant taste, especially describing inexpensive wine or other alcoholic drinks that are not smooth or refined
Hassan tried the cheap red wine but found it too rough for his taste.
describing wine: rough wine / too rough for one's taste
The rough cider left an unpleasant burning feeling in Reema's throat.
They served a rough local drink that Sumin could barely swallow.
This is a rough table wine, nothing special, but it is cheap and works for cooking.
- smooth
describes a drink that tastes pleasant and goes down easily
用法筆記
Mainly used to describe alcoholic drinks that are inexpensive and lack a smooth, refined flavour. Not used for soft drinks or water.
6. not made or done with much skill, care, or attention to detail; simple and basic
not made or done with much skill, care, or attention to detail; simple and basic in style or workmanship, often with an unfinished or unpolished appearance
The furniture in the cabin was rough and simple, made from untreated wood.
describing handmade objects: rough and simple
Eric's first pottery pieces were rough but showed a lot of promise.
The rough wooden shelter kept the hikers dry during the storm.
It was a rough hand-made table with nails sticking out of the sides.
The children built a rough camp from old boards and sheets of plastic.
- crude
emphasises lack of skill or sophistication; can sound negative
- basic
neutral; describes something simple without extra features
- unfinished
focuses on the incomplete state rather than the style
用法筆記
Often describes handmade objects, early creative attempts, or simple living conditions. Tends to carry a neutral or slightly positive tone when describing something as honest or basic rather than over-refined.
7. describes a voice or sound that is hard, loud, and not pleasant to listen to — f
describes a voice or sound that is hard, loud, and not pleasant to listen to — for example, a singer's voice after a long performance, or an old radio with poor sound quality.
Yael's voice sounded rough after she sang at the concert for three hours.
sound + rough (predicative)
The old radio produced a rough, crackling sound that hurt Hao's ears.
rough + noun (attributive with adjective pair)
Anong heard a rough knock at her door just after midnight.
Joaquín's cough was rough and dry, so his mother took him to the clinic.
A rough cheer rose from the crowd when the injured player stood up.
文法句型
rough + noun (voice, sound)
be / sound / look + rough
8. describes a machine, engine, or motor that makes unpleasant noises because it is
describes a machine, engine, or motor that makes unpleasant noises because it is not working properly or needs repair.
The washing machine sounds rough when it spins, so Henrik called a repair person.
machine + sounds rough (predicative)
Megan's car engine started to run rough after she drove it across the desert.
engine + run rough (predicative)
The old fan made a rough scraping noise every time Nia turned it on.
Felix heard a rough sound from the printer and turned it off immediately.
- smooth
running evenly and quietly
文法句型
machine / engine / motor + sound / run + rough
用法筆記
Usually describes the sound or operation of a machine, not the machine's appearance. The most common verb patterns are 'sounds rough' and 'runs rough'.
常見錯誤
9. describes a person, place, or activity that involves or is likely to cause physi
describes a person, place, or activity that involves or is likely to cause physical harm, violence, or aggressive behaviour.
The roughest area of the city was known for frequent fights late at night.
rough + place (area, neighbourhood)
Imran told the children to stay away from the rough boys near the playground.
rough + person (boys, crowd)
Rugby can be a rough sport, but players wear protective gear during matches.
The crowd grew rough after the football game, pushing and shouting at each other.
Ritu's father warned her that the rough crowd downtown was not safe after dark.
文法句型
rough + noun (area, person, sport)
be / get + rough
常見錯誤
10. describes the weather or sea when there are strong winds, big waves, or a danger
describes the weather or sea when there are strong winds, big waves, or a dangerous storm that makes travel or outdoor activity risky.
The rough sea tossed the small fishing boat like a toy in the wind.
rough + sea (attributive)
Zayd refused to go sailing in such rough weather with waves over three metres high.
rough + weather (attributive)
The rough storm damaged several houses along the coast of southern Japan.
Nellie stared at the rough ocean from the safety of the harbour wall.
The sea was so rough that all the ferries were cancelled until Tuesday morning.
文法句型
rough + noun (sea, weather, storm, wind)
be + rough
11. describes a period of time or experience that is full of problems, hardship, or
describes a period of time or experience that is full of problems, hardship, or emotional difficulty — for example, a year when a family loses income, or a day when everything goes wrong.
The company went through a rough year, losing money and laying off half its staff.
rough + time period (year, month, week)
Hao had a rough time finding an apartment in a city with very high rents.
have a rough time + verb-ing
The divorce was rough on the whole family, especially the two young children.
Though Yael's first year of teaching was rough, she never gave up.
Megan had a rough day at work after her computer broke down.
文法句型
rough + noun (time, year, day, period)
be rough on + person
have a rough + noun
常見錯誤
12. describes a person who is not feeling well physically, usually because of illnes
describes a person who is not feeling well physically, usually because of illness, tiredness, or the effects of something they ate or drank.
Megan felt rough after eating the seafood, so she went to bed early.
feel + rough (informal British usage)
Henrik looked rough the morning after the long flight from Tokyo to London.
look + rough (informal)
Ritu told her boss she felt too rough to come into the office that day.
After the marathon, Felix felt rough and needed water and a long rest.
文法句型
feel + rough
look + rough
用法筆記
Used mainly in informal British English, most often with the verbs 'feel' or 'look'. It is not used in formal medical contexts.
常見錯誤
roughest — adverb
1. in a way that involves more physical force or violence than any other person or
in a way that involves more physical force or violence than any other person or thing; in the most forceful or violent manner possible
Of all the players on the field, Luca tackled roughest during the second half.
superlative adverb with 'of all the...' comparison
The wind blew roughest on the mountain that night, shaking every tent.
The two teams fought roughest near the old bridge, damaging its stone sides.
Bao's older brother was treated roughest by the other children at school.
The waves crashed roughest along the rocky shore after the hurricane passed.
- most violently
emphasizes destructive force or harm
- most forcefully
focuses on physical power and strength
- harshest
can apply to treatment, weather, or conditions beyond physical force
用法筆記
Frequently pairs with action verbs such as 'play', 'fight', 'treat', or 'blow' to indicate the highest degree of physical force or violence.