mostly

adverb

most·​ly ˈmōst-lē 

: for the greatest part : mainly

a mostly accurate story

Synonyms of mostly

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

Examples of mostly in a Sentence

the weather this month has been mostly mild

Recent Examples on the Web

That openness is the best thing about Cooked, a record that summons electric Miles and Popol Vuh and the Necks but mostly explores endless emotional ambiguity, offering a reminder that very few sensations are ever pure. — Grayson Haver Currin, Pitchfork, 15 Oct. 2026

More than 20 vessels, mostly oil tankers, have come under attack this month in Hormuz, the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, according to incident reports from the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre. — Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2026

Apple shares rose but tech stocks and overall markets mostly ended in the red after a worse-than-expected September inflation reading sparked fears of higher interest rates that hit debt-heavy companies particularly hard. — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2026

If a launch occurs around dusk or dawn, sunlight hits this flowing plume of frozen gases while the ground and skies remain mostly dark, resulting in a uniquely spectacular (albeit, unusual) view. — Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 14 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1563, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for mostly

• ghostly

Kids Definition

mostly

adverb

most·​ly ˈmōst-lē 

: for the greatest part : mainly