mainly

adverb

main·​ly ˈmān-lē 

1

obsolete : in a forceful manner

2

: for the most part : chiefly

Synonyms

• altogether
• basically
• by and large
• chiefly
• generally
• largely
• mostly
• overall
• predominantly
• primarily
• principally
• substantially

Examples of mainly in a Sentence

you mainly need to focus on improving your golf swing

Recent Examples on the Web

The inspirational documentary chronicles the actor's storied rise but mainly focuses on his later life and work championing people with disabilities and spinal-cord injuries after a horse-riding accident left him paralyzed. —Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 24 Dec. 2024

Unlike drunkenness and hygiene issues — such as clipping fingernails and taking off shoes — which are widely disdained by fellow passengers, opinions on seat reclining mainly fall into two camps: those who say don’t do it, and others who argue the recline button exists for a reason. —Monica Pitrelli, CNBC, 24 Dec. 2024

The cost of these vehicle collisions to wildlife is mainly calculated in the number of carcasses found from accidents and diminishing animal populations. —Noël Fletcher, Forbes, 24 Dec. 2024

The era was marked by the arrival of new immigrants from Europe—mainly the modern-day Netherlands and Germany. —Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1