mainly

adverb

main·​ly ˈmān-lē 

1

obsolete : in a forceful manner

2

: for the most part : chiefly

Synonyms of mainly

• mostly
• primarily
• chiefly
• largely
• predominantly
• principally
• basically
• generally

Examples of mainly in a Sentence

you mainly need to focus on improving your golf swing

Recent Examples on the Web

Unlike conventional stereo systems, which mainly calculate horizontal differences between images from parallel cameras, CBS accounts for both horizontal and vertical disparities created when cameras converge on a target. — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 27 Aug. 2026

My mother was never one for parting phrases, mainly because she was overwhelmed by a form of timidity that verged on self-erasure. — Literary Hub, 26 Aug. 2026

The weekend currently looks much better, with Saturday and Sunday both trending mainly dry and warm with highs in the mid 80s. — Bill Kelly, CBS News, 26 Aug. 2026

Unlike earlier rebounds, when traders mainly bet on short-term price gains, investors are now paying for exposure to bitcoin gains further into the future. — Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 25 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for mainly

• plainly
• sanely
• vainly
• humanely
• insanely
• profanely
• ungainly