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By and large means “in general” or "on the whole" in most contexts, but in sailors’ lingo of yore, whence the phrase arose, by and large described a vessel alternately sailing as directly into the wind as possible (typically within about 45 degrees of the wind)—that is, by—and away from the direction from which the wind is blowing, with the wind hitting the vessel’s widest point—that is, large. (Note that this by also appears in the term full and by: "sailing as directly into the wind as possible and with all sails full.") William Bourne’s 1578 book Inventions or Devises offers insight into the phrase’s original use: “… to make a ship to draw or go but little into the water, and to hold a good wind, and to sail well both by and large, were very necessary …” As has happened with much nautical jargon, the phrase eventually came ashore. By and large, landlubbers welcomed it, first in the sense "in many directions" or "in all ways," and ultimately with its present meaning of "in general."
Examples of by and large in a Sentence
Kate Bernot, Outside, 30 Mar. 2026
Palace’s season has, by and large, followed the ups and downs their previous years in the Premier League have included.
—Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2026
Throughout the summit, the networkers were, by and large, wary of me, a representative of the fake news media evidently out to ruin their lives and stymie their future careers—apart from one intrepid college freshman who asked me about internship opportunities at this magazine.
—Gaby Del Valle, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
But by and large, the pro-Israel group is keeping things relatively calm, as public opinion is shifting on Israel in the wake of the ongoing war in Gaza and the recent joint attacks on Iran by the United States and Israel.
—Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 18 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for by and large
Cite this Entry
“By and large.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/by%20and%20large. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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