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

In the wild, wolf packs primarily subsist on wild ungulates - hoofed, typically herbivorous, animals such as deer, cows and pigs.

From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026

U.S. citizens born between 2025 and 2028 are eligible for the one-time, $1,000 tax-exempt deposit, which they typically can’t withdraw until they turn 18.

From Barron's • Apr. 15, 2026

As the CEO of a cooperative, Whittaker was never enriched by stock awards as the heads of publicly traded companies typically are.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026

Quality matters: Companies with strong cash flow, manageable leverage and pricing power are typically better positioned to navigate uneven growth and higher capital costs.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 15, 2026

Because those who were targeted were typically poor or of moderate means, they often lacked the resources to hire an attorney or pay the considerable court costs.

From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander

Related Words

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