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 of generally

• 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 rules generally wouldn't apply to children, people 65 or older, or people with disabilities or serious health issues. —Samantha Liss, CBS News, 15 Apr. 2026

Whispers about sleazy behavior generally do not meet the coverage threshold for traditional newsrooms, which are bound by strict ethical standards. —Justine McDaniel, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2026

Weight gain later in adulthood, between ages 30 and 60, was also linked to higher death rates, but the connections were generally weaker. —Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 14 Apr. 2026

The site is zoned C-MX-8, which generally allows a mix of uses up to 8 stories. —Thomas Gounley, Denver Post, 14 Apr. 2026

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