mainly

adverb

main·​ly ˈmān-lē How to pronounce mainly (audio)
1
obsolete : in a forceful manner
2
: for the most part : chiefly

Examples of mainly in a Sentence

you mainly need to focus on improving your golf swing
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
For 70 years, three families — the Joneses, the Hoppers, and the Creagers — battled for influence, mainly to score the coveted county jobs locals depended on for income, regularly accusing one another of corruption and election rigging. Mitch Moxley, Rolling Stone, 27 Sep. 2025 Funding comes mainly from hotel assessments — a per-room fee — and fare revenue. Hanna Kang, Oc Register, 26 Sep. 2025 The seafloor is mainly mud and sand because stones and boulders were removed for construction in the 1800s and 1900s. Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 26 Sep. 2025 Filming is taking place mainly in Brussels, with some shooting in Ghent, Mons and France. Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 26 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for mainly

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of mainly was in the 13th century

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Cite this Entry

“Mainly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mainly. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.

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