usually

adverb

usu·​al·​ly ˈyü-zhə-wə-lē How to pronounce usually (audio)
-zhə-lē;
ˈyüzh-wə-lē,
ˈyüzh-lē
: according to the usual or ordinary course of things : most often : as a rule : customarily, ordinarily
a trip that usually takes an hour
a time of year when the weather is usually hot
On weekdays, I usually biked alone around San Francisco.Oliver Sacks
To establish a new epoch, geologists usually have to find clear evidence in the rock record of a massive, planet-altering shift.Gayathri Vaidyanathan
Celebrity outbursts are usually so outrageous that the average person can't really relate to them.Kyra Kyles
These chemicals usually do not kill the insects: a plant does not care whether predators die; it just wants them to go away and not come back.Mark P. Mattson

Examples of usually in a Sentence

we usually go out to eat on Fridays
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.
In recent years, some Wyandotte residents have tried to get the government to delay or cancel its tax sales, which usually happen twice a year, to prevent people who have struggled to pay sky-rocketing property tax bills from losing their family homes. Kansas City Star, 18 Oct. 2025 Treatment usually includes surgery, followed by lymph node removal and possible chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Carrie Madormo, Health, 18 Oct. 2025 Spices like cinnamon or nutmeg typically work best for sweet dishes, while cloves or other types of spice blends usually pair best with more pungent, savory ones. Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 18 Oct. 2025 Another opportunity for a small reward – usually just $1 – came whenever someone complimented their behavior at restaurants. Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 18 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for usually

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of usually was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Usually.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/usually. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.

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