mainly
Americanadverb
-
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.
-
Obsolete. greatly; mightily; abundantly.
adverb
-
for the most part; to the greatest extent; principally
-
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, while all of the top candidates have impressive resumes, there’s a lack of star power that could help propel someone to the forefront.
From Los Angeles Times • May 31, 2026
Mainly, the loans can be difficult to value and are risky in periods of economic trouble.
From Barron's • Apr. 4, 2026
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
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
"Mainly commercials, but not for any banks or car dealerships, because those are usually choral arrangements."
From "Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris
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.
