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.
That increase stood in sharp contrast to the decline seen among adults between ages 50 and 74, the age group most commonly targeted for screening.
From Science Daily • May 15, 2026
Medication abortions are most commonly prescribed with the brand name drug Mifeprex.
From Salon • May 15, 2026
In particular, he indicated last month that he wanted to ban the so-called “friendly physician” model, another legal structure commonly used by private-equity firms to back medical practices.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 14, 2026
In March, prices for polyethylene, the most commonly used plastic globally, rose to their highest point in nearly four years, a problem for companies that need the material.
From Barron's • May 13, 2026
In regular speeches, we commonly offer observations, first of all, for and against witnesses in general.
From "Words Like Loaded Pistols" by Sam Leith
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.
