typically
Americanadverb
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in a way that serves as or conforms to a type.
The study examines the eating patterns of both typically developing children and those who have intellectual or developmental delays.
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commonly or characteristically.
A Florida thunderstorm typically works like this: lightning and thunder, torrential rain, gusty winds, and then it’s all over in about 5 to 10 minutes.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of typically
Explanation
Use the adverb typically when something happens in a general or usual way. The winner of the Miss America pageant, for example, is typically a very tall, slender young woman with long hair. You might say that it typically takes a year to get a driver's license in your state — in other words, that's how long it takes as a general rule or on average. Or you could say that while you don't typically enjoy short stories, you read one recently that you can't get out of your mind. The adjective typical is at the root of typically, from the Late Latin typicus, "of a type," and the Greek typos, "impression."
Vocabulary lists containing typically
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
She gave the media organization $80 million this week, making her the largest living donor ever to NPR and placing her in a spotlight typically enjoyed by her husband, L.A.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 18, 2026
Today, yogurt still primarily exists as a sweet treat, typically enjoyed for breakfast alongside fruit and granola, on chia seed puddings, or as a healthy alternative to ice cream.
From Salon • Mar. 28, 2026
These include getting worse grades at school, being withdrawn or not being able to engage in activities the child typically enjoyed.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 23, 2024
Three- to seven-day juice cleanses were a regular part of Evans’s life, and her friends occasionally partook, although they typically enjoyed the product more than the process.
From Washington Post • Oct. 12, 2022
Some water activities typically enjoyed by visitors to the Jackson Lake Lodge, where Fed officials are convening, have been canceled this summer.
From Seattle Times • Aug. 25, 2022
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
