usually

American  

[yoo-zhoo-uh-lee, yoozh-wuh-lee] / ˈyu ʒu ə li, ˈyuʒ wə li /

adverb

1. in the manner or way that is most usual; typically; ordinarily.

   We usually have breakfast on the back porch.

---

usually British  

/ ˈjuːʒʊəlɪ /

adverb

1. customarily; at most times; in the ordinary course of events

---

Related Words

See often.

Etymology

Origin of usually

First recorded in 1450–1500; late Middle English; usual ( def. ) + -ly

Explanation

If you usually do something, that’s what you do on a normal day. Tonight you might be making a seven-course meal to celebrate your birthday, even though usually you just get take-out pizza. Usual comes from the word use, and implies "the most common use." A screwdriver usually drives screws into something, or takes them out. Unusually, you have strung your screwdriver on a chain and are wearing it as a necklace. You can also say usually to describe the normal state of things: "On New Year’s Eve, this usually quiet street erupts with noise."

Example Sentences

When he doesn’t swing, the pitch is usually a ball.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 30, 2026

That math requires a large set of assumptions, and promoters will usually tweak those assumptions in their favor to drive up the total.

From Salon • Apr. 30, 2026

Louden says the actor insisted on doing as much as possible for the part, even recording incidental animations usually captured by a specialist performer.

From BBC • Apr. 30, 2026

As for where the stock might be headed, Barron’s senior technical analyst Doug Busch External link says setting a new all-time high is usually a bullish indicator, and that shares can hit $100.

From Barron's • Apr. 29, 2026

While everyone else spent time on the lawn catching up with family, he was always off by himself, usually in the library.

From "Glitch" by Laura Martin

Related Words

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