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

Security Vulnerabilities Increase At Scale More than technical debt, research has proven AI code is generally not secure. —Joe Toscano, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026

Thriving in cool, moist climates, this durable evergreen can handle temperatures down to 10° F and is generally hardy in USDA zones 3 to 7. —Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 20 Jan. 2026

Snowfall totals will generally be light, with cities such as Minneapolis, Madison and Chicago picking up less than 1 inch of snow. —Kathryn Prociv, NBC news, 20 Jan. 2026

Cancer incidence and mortality generally appears to be higher among men than women, the report found. —The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Jan. 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