typically

American  

[tip-i-klee] / ˈtɪp ɪ kli /

adverb

1. 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.

2. 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.

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Other Word Forms

• nontypically adverb
• quasi-typically adverb
• untypically adverb

Etymology

Origin of typically

typical ( def. ) + -ly

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."

Example Sentences

The reorganization gave the deputy secretary more direct oversight of programs typically managed directly by services like the Navy.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026

Children typically receive their first MMR dose when they are 12 to 15 months old and the second when they are 4 to 6 years old, according to the CDC.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 16, 2026

Under president Florentino Perez, managers' contracts have typically ended the moment those trophies disappear.

From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026

In a Phase 3 clinical trial, two patients out of a total 2,000 recorded high levels of alanine aminotransferase and bilirubin, typically a strong predictor of liver failure.

From Barron's • Apr. 15, 2026

In the state system, less than 3 percent of new court commitments to state prison typically involve people convicted of homicide.

From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander

Related Words

• commonly
• consistently
• customarily
• frequently
• generally
• mostly
• naturally
• normally
• occasionally
• often
• ordinarily
• regularly
• routinely
• sometimes