generally

adverb

gen·​er·​al·​ly ˈjen-rə-lē 

ˈje-nə-,

ˈje-nər-lē

: in a general manner: such as

a

: in disregard of specific instances and with regard to an overall picture

generally speaking

b

: as a rule : usually

Synonyms

• usually
• normally
• typically

Examples of generally in a Sentence

He talked generally about his plans.

I had a generally good day.

It generally takes about a month for the shipment to arrive.

When stocks are up, bonds are generally down.

This town is generally regarded as a good place to raise kids.

Recent Examples on the Web

The best things to clean linoleum with are generally dish soap, water and vinegar, or a steam cleaner. —Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 7 Sep. 2025

Our tester found that the technology along with the small grain size made the litter generally easier to scoop than others she’s tried. —Kayla Blanton, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025

Soils that are rich in clay generally only need to be tested once every 3 to 4 years. —Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Sep. 2025

Golden generations are, almost by nature, generally followed by a less impressive one. —Michael Cox, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing generally

• generally speaking

Kids Definition

generally

adverb

gen·​er·​al·​ly ˈjen-(ə-)rə-lē 

ˈjen-ər-lē

1

: for the most part

generally speaking

2

: as a rule : usually