commonly
Americanadverb
-
often; frequently.
commonly used words.
-
usually; generally; ordinarily.
- Synonyms:
- routinely, customarily, normally
-
in a common manner.
adverb
-
usually; ordinarily
he was commonly known as Joe
-
derogatory in a coarse or vulgar way
she dresses commonly
Etymology
Origin of commonly
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English communeli(che); equivalent to common + -ly
Explanation
The adverb commonly is good for talking about something that usually or ordinarily happens. Mice, for example, are commonly afraid of cats. Commonly describes an action that's to be expected. You could say that the bus commonly picks you up fifteen minutes late, or that colds and flu are commonly passed around between kids at school. The earliest use of commonly, around 1300, was to mean "in a way common to all," from the adjective common, or "belonging to all." The Latin root communis means "in common, public, or shared by all or many."
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.
Standard heart failure care currently relies on a combination of four medications, commonly known as the 'Fantastic Four.'
From Science Daily ● Aug. 16, 2026
Some automakers are so desperate to get vehicles to Europe, Australia and Latin America they are squeezing them inside shipping containers more commonly used to transport furniture, clothes and electronics.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
Retatrutide, which is a peptide like most GLP-1–based drugs, is commonly referred to as “reta” or “ratatouille” online.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 12, 2026
While commonly thought of as a rainmaker for Southern California, scientists say that’s not a given even during a “very strong” or “super” El Niño like this one is shaping up to be.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2026
Dr. Scott thought Jimmie had something called undulant fever, caused by the unpasteurized milk and cheese that was commonly consumed at that time.
From "Reaching for the Moon" by Katherine Johnson
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.
