mostly

adverb

most·​ly ˈmōst-lē How to pronounce mostly (audio)
: for the greatest part : mainly

Examples of mostly in a Sentence

the weather this month has been mostly mild
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.
The closing portion is mostly on certain Mercedes and Genesis models. Jamie L. Lareau, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2025 That left one very narrow path for Gray and others like him, mostly Black men, to have their cases revisited. Richard A. Webster, ProPublica, 25 Aug. 2025 Most dental floss is plastic, too—alternatives, such as silk floss, are mostly a health-food-store find. Zoë Schlanger, The Atlantic, 25 Aug. 2025 Into the mix are their best friends, lawyer Barry (Andy Samberg) and his wife Amy (Kate McKinnon), who mostly are observers of the wilting Roses but with just the right touch of sympathy and advice. Pete Hammond, Deadline, 25 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for mostly

Word History

First Known Use

1563, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of mostly was in 1563

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Mostly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mostly. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

mostly

adverb
most·​ly ˈmōst-lē How to pronounce mostly (audio)
: for the greatest part : mainly

More from Merriam-Webster on mostly

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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