ordinarily

American  

[awr-dn-air-uh-lee, awr-dn-er-uh-lee] / ˌɔr dnˈɛər ə li, ˈɔr dnˌɛr ə li /

adverb

1. most of the time; generally; usually.

   Ordinarily he wakes at seven.

2. in an unexceptional manner or fashion; modestly.

   a wealthy child who was dressed ordinarily.

3. to the usual extent; reasonably.

   to expect someone to be ordinarily honest.

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ordinarily British  

/ ˈɔːdəˌnɛrɪlɪ, ˈɔːdənrɪlɪ /

adverb

1. in ordinary, normal, or usual practice; usually; normally

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Etymology

Origin of ordinarily

First recorded in 1525–35; ordinary + -ly

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

ordinarily

“Carroll’s trial rested fundamentally on improper propensity evidence that courts ordinarily disavow,” Trump’s lawyers wrote in a legal brief.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 29, 2026

This one, ordinarily known as the MetLife, has more than 78,000 seats in the district of East Rutherford.

From BBC ● Jun. 25, 2026

Step into your local supermarket, and you may find that those ordinarily humble broccoli bunches or cauliflower heads now carry higher price tags.

From Salon ● May 27, 2026

When a nonprofit “converts” to a for-profit, states ordinarily require the attorney general to make sure the charitable assets are carefully accounted for and paid for by their new owners.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 13, 2026

I doubt it was much fun for all the other instrumentalists, either, who would not ordinarily have been bound by such restrictions.

From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall

Related Words

• commonly
• customarily
• generally
• normally
• regularly