mainly
Americanadverb
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chiefly; principally; for the most part; in the main; to the greatest extent.
Our success was due mainly to your efforts. The audience consisted mainly of students.
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Obsolete. greatly; mightily; abundantly.
adverb
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for the most part; to the greatest extent; principally
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obsolete strongly; very much
Etymology
Origin of mainly
First recorded in 1225–75, mainly is from the Middle English word maynliche, maynly. See main 1, -ly
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Mainly, this matters in the realm of cinematic and box office achievement, for which “Sinners” won a 2026 Golden Globe.
From Salon • Mar. 13, 2026
“It’s not my vibe. It never has been. Mainly because I wouldn’t do it well,” she told Deadline ahead of the ceremony.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 1, 2026
Mainly, he explained to his clients what fusion is—Smashing atoms together to make a new element, which releases energy, like stars.
From Barron's • Dec. 19, 2025
Emergency medicine specialist Kimberly Humphrey, currently helping patients at the COP medical centre, told the BBC that the injuries are "Mainly people with smoke inhalation, someone with a lung injury from smoke."
From BBC • Nov. 20, 2025
“Yes. They might be a bit flickery, but they’d light. Mainly, it would run your refrigerator, your freezer, things like that. They don’t use much current.”
From "Z for Zachariah" by Robert C. O’Brien
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
