mostly

[mohst-lee]

adverb

1. for the most most much part; in the main.

   The work is mostly done.

2. chiefly; principally.

3. generally; customarily.

mostly

/ ˈməʊstlɪ /

adverb

1. almost entirely; chiefly

2. on many or most occasions; usually

Word History and Origins

Origin of mostly¹

First recorded in 1585–95; most + -ly

Example Sentences

Her voice dropped, as if she were speaking mostly to herself.

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Those simple, mostly happy days would never come again.

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Adult pandas can, and do, climb trees, although it’s mostly panda cubs who spend extended periods of time above the forest floor.

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Before the Civil War, five sitting presidents vacationed there, as did judges, lawyers, diplomats, slaveholders, and merchants—mostly from Southern states.

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In fact, they said, fishermen in the area had been pulling up objects like these and giving them to their neighbors, who mostly used them to hold dog food.

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Related Words

• chiefly 
• essentially 
• frequently 
• largely 
• often 
• particularly 
• predominantly www.thesaurus.com
• principally 
• regularly 
• usually