mostly

adverb

most·​ly ˈmōst-lē How to pronounce mostly (audio)
: for the greatest part : mainly

Examples of mostly in a Sentence

the weather this month has been mostly mild
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Council’s deliberations are mostly behind closed doors. Jon McGowan, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025 These cases mostly centered on medical issues, including diabetes, chronic pain, and other non-lethal afflictions. Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 31 May 2025 Prince Andrew has remained mostly out of the public eye since reports of his close friendship with Jeffrey Epstein, but his daughters have continued with their royal duties. Lissete Lanuza Sáenz, StyleCaster, 31 May 2025 In North Dakota, seven mostly small, rural counties wound up on the list, including Slope County, which also backed Trump. Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for mostly

Word History

First Known Use

1563, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of mostly was in 1563

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Mostly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mostly. Accessed 9 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

mostly

adverb
most·​ly ˈmōst-lē How to pronounce mostly (audio)
: for the greatest part : mainly

More from Merriam-Webster on mostly

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!