originally
Americanadverb
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with respect to origin; by origin.
Originally he came from California.
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at the beginning; at first.
Originally this was to be in three volumes.
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in the first place; primarily.
Originally nomads, they first learned agriculture from the missionaries.
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in an original, novel, or distinctively individual manner.
Originally planned houses are much in demand.
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Archaic. from the beginning; from the first; inherently.
adverb
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in the first place
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in an original way
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with reference to the origin or beginning
Etymology
Origin of originally
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.
The propellant was originally designed for chemical propulsion systems.
From Science Daily • Jun. 10, 2026
A fifth-century anthology of Greek writing, originally collected by a father for his son, offers wisdom and insight into the human condition.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 9, 2026
Reiner was originally represented by celebrity attorney Alan Jackson, who left the case a short time later.
From Barron's • Jun. 9, 2026
The mission was originally conceived to be the first crewed lunar landing since Apollo 17 in 1972, but Nasa changed its plans in February 2026.
From BBC • Jun. 9, 2026
Tsar Nicholas II originally bestowed the title in 1914; it was being used in 1954 and is still awarded today.
From "Endgame" by Frank Brady
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.
