largely

adverb

large·​ly ˈlärj-lē 

: in a large manner

especially : to a large extent : mostly, primarily

words largely unknown a decade ago

Synonyms of largely

• mostly
• mainly
• primarily
• chiefly
• predominantly
• principally
• basically
• generally

Examples of largely in a Sentence

The story is largely true.

He is largely responsible for the problem.

The economy is based largely on farming.

Recent Examples on the Web

Cuban officials have said existing US economic sanctions are largely to blame for the country’s ailing energy sector, although critics also fault a lack of government investment in infrastructure. —Bianna Golodryga, CNN Money, 5 Feb. 2026

These subtle changes allowed scientists to calculate the planet’s dimensions with unprecedented accuracy, refining measurements that had remained largely unchanged since the 1970s. —Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 5 Feb. 2026

Captive elephants remain a sometimes controversial topic, and the zoo’s herd is a mix of rescues and births, but the goal was to create a space where humans are at once removed and don’t impede on the relative free-roaming ability of the animals by keeping guests largely elevated. —Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2026

Jackson was disinvited from the Grammy Awards telecast the following week and largely retreated from the public spotlight, while Timberlake’s career continued uninterrupted. —Dallas Morning News, 4 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

largely

adverb

large·​ly ˈlärj-lē 

1

: generally sense 1

the story is largely true

2

: in a great amount

tipped the waiter largely