ordinarily

adverb

or·​di·​nar·​i·​ly ˌȯr-də-ˈner-ə-lē How to pronounce ordinarily (audio)
: in an ordinary manner or to an ordinary extent: such as
a
: in the ordinary course of events : usually
She was ordinarily very busy in the morning.
the jobs ordinarily handled by junior staff members
… cortisol, a hormone which ordinarily comes into play in situations of bodily stress …Maggie Scarf
Ordinarily, the immune system of any mammal will work to fight off a fungal parasite.David Quammen
b
: to the usual extent : moderately
It must suffice for him to be ordinarily honest according to the ordinary honesty of the world's ways …Anthony Trollope
c
: in a commonplace or inferior way : without distinction
A friend of mine … has two apartments on the 3rd floor, very ordinarily furnished …Walt Whitman

Examples of ordinarily in a Sentence

ordinarily, I get off work at five, but this week I'm working late to meet a project deadline
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.
And both blocked the positive effects of the immunotherapy drug anti-PD-L1, which ordinarily boosts the production and activity of tumor-fighting T cells. New Atlas, 6 Oct. 2025 The location in Kentish Town in the Borough of Camden is close to central London, which is different to most studio facilities in England, which are ordinarily housed out of town. Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 3 Oct. 2025 As such, more will be required than a World Cup ticket, particularly because physical tickets are vulnerable to counterfeiting, while electronic devices, which may ordinarily be a way to show authentic tickets, are usually forbidden in consular buildings where interviews take place. Adam Crafton, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025 This may be unsurprising given the slasher’s… other habits, but with spooky season officially here, even ordinarily sensible people have a tendency to throw caution to the wind with a chainsaw in their hands. Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 2 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for ordinarily

Word History

First Known Use

1555, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ordinarily was in 1555

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Cite this Entry

“Ordinarily.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ordinarily. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.

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