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

Three months ago, the two had a baby together and the Internet mostly just shrugged.

From The Daily Beast

But the F-35 has been plagued with massive delays and cost overruns—mostly due to design defects and software issues.

From The Daily Beast

“Mostly people on a budget use it,” Franz Dobersberger, managing director of a Bangkok travel agency, told The Daily Beast.

From The Daily Beast

So for the 12 years he spent at Aldgate, Chaucer was mostly alone, with a teeming urban scene literally beneath his feet.

From The Daily Beast

Brinsley was trying to produce tracks—hip-hop, mostly—and he apparently had a knack as a techie.

From The Daily Beast

In and around where they now sat, there was quite a settlement of Negroes, mostly small farmers.

From Project Gutenberg

Only then did I own that by hook or by crook—and mostly by crook, I was forced to suspect—they had purposely given me the slip.

From Project Gutenberg

The ship was not large and was insufficiently equipped; the sailors were mostly heretics.

From Project Gutenberg

In the middle of the last century all organs were voiced on light wind pressure, mostly from an inch and a half to three inches.

From Project Gutenberg

They mostly wore the placid expression of folks engaged in business affairs instead of the worried look of pleasure-seekers.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• chiefly
• essentially
• frequently
• largely
• often
• particularly
• predominantly
• principally
• regularly
• usually