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

It was generally acknowledged that this was a World Cup without a genuinely outstanding team, after Brazil in 1970 and the Netherlands in 1974 had captured the world’s imagination with forward-thinking football. —Michael Cox, New York Times, 5 Oct. 2025

During the shutdown – which has no end in sight – park roads, trails and open-air memorials will generally remain accessible, but many visitors’ centers will be closed. —Brian Todd, CNN Money, 4 Oct. 2025

Therapy should be generally reserved for men who have symptoms of hypogonadism, a condition where the body does not produce enough testosterone, according to the Endocrine Society. —Shiv Sudhakar, FOXNews.com, 4 Oct. 2025

Limestone parent material generally generates alkaline (high pH) soils whereas granites generate more acidic soil. —Paul Cappiello, Louisville Courier Journal, 3 Oct. 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