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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And yet all of this bounty is still, by and large, for the cognoscenti.
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Senators, by and large, aren't executive types who have managed large organizations.
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But by and large trade experts say tariffs are the wrong solution to a real problem.
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His brother told the press that Gus was a happy dude, by and large, who knew his fame depended, to a degree (and for the time being), on seeming suicidal half the time.
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The cultivars that exist today are by and large wild varieties selected for positive traits: large fruit size, exceptional flavor, fewer seeds, and so on.
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The studios were stuck with a release pattern designed to flatter a social landscape that, by and large, no longer existed.
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Current accounts have, by and large, moved towards balance, meaning most of them are less reliant on foreign borrowing.
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The heartening truth is that until now, the United States has, by and large, done a good job of insulating the economy from political interference.
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;
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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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