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By and large means “in general” or "on the whole" in most contexts, but in sailors’ lingo of yore, whence the phrase arose, by and large described a vessel alternately sailing as directly into the wind as possible (typically within about 45 degrees of the wind)—that is, by—and away from the direction from which the wind is blowing, with the wind hitting the vessel’s widest point—that is, large. (Note that this by also appears in the term full and by: "sailing as directly into the wind as possible and with all sails full.") William Bourne’s 1578 book Inventions or Devises offers insight into the phrase’s original use: “… to make a ship to draw or go but little into the water, and to hold a good wind, and to sail well both by and large, were very necessary …” As has happened with much nautical jargon, the phrase eventually came ashore. By and large, landlubbers welcomed it, first in the sense "in many directions" or "in all ways," and ultimately with its present meaning of "in general."
Examples of by and large in a Sentence
Allen Farmelo, Robb Report, 17 Feb. 2025
But by and large, my idea was to put together in this show all the greatest songs.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 13 Feb. 2025
No! One producer who has premiered several films in Park City noted to me that Sundance is, by and large, the only festival that filmmakers are expected to outgrow.
—Mia Galuppo, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Feb. 2025
But by and large, the notion that wealthy individuals will marshal their resources to alleviate social crises has come to seem quaint in today’s world.
—Brian Klaas, The Atlantic, 7 Feb. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“By and large.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/by%20and%20large. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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