mainly

American  

[meyn-lee] / ˈmeɪn li /

adverb

1. 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.

2. Obsolete. greatly; mightily; abundantly.

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mainly British  

/ ˈmeɪnlɪ /

adverb

1. for the most part; to the greatest extent; principally

2. obsolete strongly; very much

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Etymology

Origin of mainly

First recorded in 1225–75, mainly is from the Middle English word maynliche, maynly. See main ¹, -ly

Example Sentences

Then there is the downside: When these office relationships end, women subordinates see their earnings drop roughly 18% the year after the breakup—mainly because many of them end up leaving the company.

From The Wall Street Journal

The melting is driven mainly by relatively warm water from the deep ocean that flows into cavities beneath the ice.

From Science Daily

For decades, scientists believed aging mainly altered how cells function, not how many of each type exist.

From Science Daily

Vernice has her sights set on college, marriage and children; Annie is mainly motivated by her obsession with finding her mother.

From The Wall Street Journal

Ascribing it mainly to one faction risks exacerbating the problem.

From The Wall Street Journal