originally

adverb

orig·​i·​nal·​ly ə-ˈri-jə-nᵊl-ē 

-ˈrij-nə-lē,

-ˈri-jən-

1

archaic : by origin or derivation : inherently

2

: in the beginning : in the first place : initially

3

: in a fresh or original manner

Synonyms

• firstly
• initially
• primarily

Examples of originally in a Sentence

That van originally belonged to us.

The building was originally a school.

They originally planned to fix their old car, but they decided to buy a new one instead.

Originally, the word had a very different meaning from its current meaning.

a New Yorker who is originally from Mexico

She has shown an ability to think originally about ways to improve the company.

Recent Examples on the Web

From Fingerlings to Founding A Healthcare Brand Fingerlings, released in 2017 by toy manufacturer WowWee, are small robotic figures, originally styled to resemble monkeys tiny enough to wrap their arms around a finger. —Joan Verdon, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025

Ellen, aged eighty-two, is originally from Philadelphia, and is the daughter of a passionate Zionist. —Eyal Press, New Yorker, 9 June 2025

That Entertains but Treads Too Carefully Recognition Music was originally founded by music executive Merck Mercuriadis, with Mercuriadis leaving last year after private equity company Blackstone purchased the company. —Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 9 June 2025

Williams had originally been placed on the first flight — the one that crashed — but was pulled off at the last moment due to overcrowding. —Jim Axelrod june 9, CBS News, 9 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

originally

adverb

orig·​i·​nal·​ly ə-ˈrij-ən-ᵊl-ē 

-nəl-ē

1

: in the beginning : in the first place

2

: in an original manner