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.
Ortuanya also announced a ban on signing-out celebrations, which are commonly held by final-year students to mark the completion of their studies.
From BBC ● Nov. 13, 2026
Fragmented systems are the most commonly cited hurdle to broader AI adoption, mentioned by 20% of respondents, with 19% citing regulatory uncertainty and 17% pointing to a lack of clear leadership strategy.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 12, 2026
Cannabis refers to the plant itself, while marijuana is a commonly used term for cannabis products containing enough THC to produce psychoactive effects.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 11, 2026
“The Westminster Police Department does not tolerate illegal gambling establishments, commonly known as ‘slaphouses,’ within our community,” the department said in a news release.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 11, 2026
It’s commonly used as a name for Russian news sources even today.
From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
