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.
Exercise is commonly recommended as one of the first treatments for reducing symptoms and maintaining mobility.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 28, 2026
One depicts a bison, while the other is commonly described as a mask.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 28, 2026
They are not commonly displayed at zoos as they are relatively more sensitive to infections, the Kobe zoo said in a written statement to AFP Monday.
From Barron's ● Jul. 27, 2026
Ultimate Team, commonly referred to as FUT, is one of the main modes of the EA FC series.
From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026
“Calpurnia,” he said, “what is the order of the spider commonly known as daddy longlegs?”
From "The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate" by Jacqueline Kelly
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.
