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Glite Dictionary
to rough out

to rough out

1 5.1
To make a simple first version of an idea or plan as a quick drawing
  • phrasal verb
  • /rʌf aʊt/
translation icon : esbozar
  • Before the meeting, she decided to rough out a few ideas for her presentation.
  • rough out a shape
  • rough out your composition
  • roughed out the design

Examples

  • Rough out a storyline, and then we'll get to work.

    The Bad and the Beautiful (1952)

  • You get your top talent together, you start roughing out a framework, and then projects hit.

    Blog text (10)

  • We need to rough out a real strategy.

    Extraordinary Measures (2010)

  • Just rough out the directions.

    A Song Is Born (1948)

  • I'll rough out a tracking algorithm, basic cluster recognition.

    The Avengers (2012)

  • It should only take a week or two to rough something out. "OK, go down and see Fleem in the lab."

    Fiction book (1998)

  • They began with sketches, and then started to rough out their solutions using the parts and the scrap wood I gave them.

    Academic text (2007)

  • Manny tried to rough out an outline for his next chapter, one he was scheduled to deliver at an upcoming university lecture.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • After a short ceremony for the felling, the carver sets up a temporary encampment and roughs out a shape in the green wood.

    Academic text (1990)

  • You should rough out an outline of your story before writing the full draft.

Synonyms

to draft
vsto rough out
138 3.7

To make an early version of a document or plan

is used for first basic versions across many kinds of work
to rough
vsto rough out
57 6.5

To make a quick simple drawing or plan

focuses on creating a first basic version rather than physical texture
to sketch
vsto rough out
45 3.0

To make a quick rough drawing to plan an idea

is broader and applies to first basic versions beyond only drawings
to rough in
vsto rough out
1 6.6

Make a simple first version to show the main plan

is used for the first simple version beyond only outlines
to chalk out
vsto rough out
6.1

To make a simple plan or outline for something

is used for making the first practical version rather than just planning
to cobble up
vsto rough out
  • Informal
8.2

To make something quickly and roughly using what is available

is about preparing an initial planned version rather than improvised assembly

Antonyms

to refine
93 4.0

Make something better by making a few small changes

to finalize
  • US
74 3.8

Complete the last details to make something ready

How Detailed

to finalize
  • US
74 3.8
to revise
179 3.4
to flesh out
15 4.0
to draft
138 3.7
to rough out
1 5.1
outline
59 2.7

Surface Forms

rough out infinitive
roughed out past
roughed out past participle
roughing out present participle
roughs out third person singular

Morphology

rough + out

The verb sense of 'rough' already means to make an initial or sketchy draft, and the particle 'out' here signals producing or bringing forth that draft, so the combined meaning 'to prepare a basic/unfinished version' is directly derivable from the parts. This compositional pattern (verb + out = produce an initial version) is common in English and similar across other languages, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents would likely understand the MWE.

Etymology

Rough out shows the idea of making a quick, not neat shape: rough and out in front of you, like a fast sketch or a simple model. So, to rough out something means to make its 'first, unfinished version' before adding the details.