mainly

[ meyn-lee ]

/ ˈmeɪn li /

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adverb

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.

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Origin of mainly

First recorded in 1225–75, mainly is from the Middle English word maynliche, maynly. See main¹, -ly

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for mainly

Atefeh says the participants in the underground classes she attends are mainly young women.
Iran’s Becoming a Footloose Nation as Dance Lessons Spread|IranWire|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Cricket is a sport enjoyed by hundreds of millions around the globe, mainly in former British colonies.
The Story of the World’s Greatest Cricket Player|William O’Connor|December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It would transport bitumen and liquefied natural gas drawn from the tar sands to refineries on the Gulf Coast, mainly in Texas.
The Pipeline From Hell: There’s No Good Reason to Build Keystone XL|Jack Holmes|November 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
At the end of the day, however, both have been mainly self-protective powers.
There’s Only One Way to Beat ISIS: Work With Assad and Iran|Leslie H. Gelb|October 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST

But the other couples are mainly devout Catholics who toe the party line when it comes to birth control and divorce.
The Pope vs. the Church on Family Values?|Barbie Latza Nadeau|October 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It is for the information of such as these that this chapter is mainly intended, not for scientists or miners of large experience.
Getting Gold|J. C. F. Johnson
Besides this, mainly with a view to putting a stop to their reckless use by boys and others, pistols were to be taxed 1l.
Lord Randolph Churchill|Winston Spencer Churchill
They have provided themselves with cheaply built churches, in which their frequent and long worship is mainly sound and fury.
The Brothers' War|John Calvin Reed
Bayezid next turned his attention to Asia Minor, where he was mainly ambitious to add to his Empire.
The Turkish Empire, its Growth and Decay|Lord Eversley
Mainly found in Boeotia, but extends north to valley of Spercheius and south to Argolid.
How to Observe in Archaeology|Various

British Dictionary definitions for mainly

mainly

/ (ˈmeɪnlɪ) /

adverb

for the most part; to the greatest extent; principally

obsolete strongly; very much

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for mainly

mainly

adv.

late 13c., "vigorously," from main (adj.) + -ly (2). Meaning "especially" is from c.1400; that of "for the most part" is from 1660s.

mainly

adverb

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Origin of mainly

Examples from the Web for mainly

mainly

adverb

mainly