Definition of by and large
: on the whole : in general
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Examples of by and large in a Sentence
by and large, that information is accurate
Recent Examples of by and large from the Web
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Problem is, by and large, the public isn’t paying much attention to what the officials say, diminishing their influence over inflation expectations, according to a new paper published by the National Bureau of Economic Research.
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But this example shows the importance of consciously designing the style of our engagement even with a technology application whose use is, by and large, positive.
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That's because our entertainment—for many reasons—has by and large abandoned the romantic comedy, a genre that dominated theaters for decades and serves as the primary home for these types of guys.
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National governments have by and large preserved their rights to legislate on matters that most exercise citizens, such as the appropriate level of taxation or the management of public services.
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The list was by and large the intellectual brainchild of the Federalist Society, the association of conservative lawyers.
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Television by and large fails to live up to its promise and its responsibilities.
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But at that time, the only Americans looking for olive oil by and large were those descended from Mediterranean countries — Greece, Italy, Spain, Tunisia — where olive oil was and is a staple.
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That's not surprising, since politicians are still by and large refusing to try to do anything to curb gun violence.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'by and large.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Did You Know?
By and large is originally a sailing term meaning "alternately close-hauled and not close-hauled." A ship that is sailing "close-hauled" is sailing as directly into the wind as possible (typically within about 45 degrees of the wind). The "by" part of the phrase means "close-hauled." (This "by" also appears in the term full and by, meaning "sailing with all sails full and close to the wind as possible.") "Large," by contrast, refers to a point of sail in which the wind is hitting the boat "abaft the beam," or behind the boat's widest point. A 1669 example of a variant spelling of "by and large" gives us a sense of the range implied: "Thus you see the ship handled in fair weather and foul, by and learge" (S. Sturmy, Mariners Magazine). The suggestion of a wide range carries over into the term's "in general" sense.
First Known Use of by and large
1707
by and large Synonyms
Synonyms
altogether, basically, chiefly, generally, largely, mainly, mostly, overall, predominantly, primarily, principally, substantially;
Near Antonyms
completely, entirely, fully, perfectly, thoroughly, totally, wholly;
Related Words
about, more or less, most, much, near, nearly, next to, nigh, practically, some, virtually, well-nigh;
approximately, broadly, plus or minus, roughly;
commonly, frequently, generally, normally, ordinarily, typically, usually;
Phrases
in general, on the whole;
Learn More about by and large
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See words that rhyme with by and large Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for by and large Nglish: Translation of by and large for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of by and large for Arabic speakers
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