basically

adverb

ˈbā-si-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce basically (audio)
Definition of basicallynext
as in mostly
for the most part your answer is basically correct

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of basically One of the weirdest parts of the FIFA 2026 World Cup final was the random speech by Tom Cruise, who basically delivered a monologue on one of the biggest stages in the world. — Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 24 July 2026 So the guys are starting where sports started, basically, with rapid-fire events designed around speed and strength. — Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 24 July 2026 If a team wins, their GM must be smarter than everyone else because the idea that everyone is basically rolling the same dice and flipping the same coins and some guys are just getting luckier on the results is kind of a bummer. — Sean McIndoe, New York Times, 24 July 2026 For more technically ambitious films—of which Nolan almost exclusively makes—the theatre was basically a formal requirement. — Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 22 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for basically
Recent Examples of Synonyms for basically
  1. mostly
  2. mainly
  3. primarily
  4. largely
  5. chiefly
  6. predominantly
  7. generally
  8. principally
Adverb
  • Hughes’ fall on this list mostly stems from major growth from others above him and the lack of term left on his deal.
    — Dom Luszczyszyn, New York Times, 22 July 2026
  • That case focused mostly on the details of the knife attack itself; the federal one delves more into questions of motive.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 22 July 2026
Definition of mostly
Adverb
  • Up until then, Silbiger had mainly documented the inner workings of Capitol Hill and the White House as a freelance photojournalist in Washington, DC.
    — Sarah Silbiger, CNN Money, 25 July 2026
  • Earlier research works explored this phenomenon mainly in isolated laboratory systems or as a way to deliberately control quantum states.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 25 July 2026
Definition of mainly
Adverb
  • Its main weapons bay is associated primarily with long-range air-to-air missiles, while smaller side bays carry short-range missiles.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 26 July 2026
  • How Renewable Energy Can Better Protect Ecosystems Traditional sustainability metrics have long focused primarily on emissions.
    — Indrabati Lahiri, Forbes.com, 26 July 2026
Definition of primarily
Adverb
  • As camera adoption has become more widespread in recent years, those concerns have largely faded away, according to Common Council President Sabrina Madison.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 July 2026
  • What today's affordable new homes offer—and the tradeoffs Where buyers are most likely to find a deal on new construction depends largely on the local market.
    — Mike Winters, CNBC, 23 July 2026
Definition of largely
Adverb
  • But Elliot’s best argument is ultimately himself—chiefly, his own vigorous libido, which his workaholic medical-student girlfriend, Minerva (a deader-than-deadpan Charli XCX), has long since lost interest in satiating.
    — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 24 July 2026
  • But this is surely the least fabled World Cup in history, and remembered chiefly for the political tensions shortly before the following year’s outbreak of the Second World War.
    — Michael Cox, New York Times, 23 July 2026
Definition of chiefly
Adverb
  • Once known predominantly for projecting educational installations at museums and aquariums, IMAX spent decades trying to break into the mainstream, though its limited network of theatres and analog-only format proved prohibitive for major studios.
    — Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 22 July 2026
  • So have members of the predominantly Black church where her body was discovered May 8.
    — Caitlin McGlade, Charlotte Observer, 22 July 2026
Definition of predominantly
Adverb
  • Tournament football isn’t generally conducive to pressing, with so many matches squeezed into such a short window, and without the cohesion that comes from club sides training together for months.
    — Michael Cox, New York Times, 22 July 2026
  • Checks are generally distributed on Wednesdays, based on the day of the month you were born.
    — Brian Sloan, CNBC, 21 July 2026
Definition of generally
Adverb
  • The cast is principally composed of UC Irvine students, past and present, with a few guest artists in the mix.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 23 July 2026
  • Although some of these new institutions may adopt the name college, they won't be architected around classrooms and their business model won't be principally tuition-based.
    — Ryan Craig, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
Definition of principally

Browse Nearby Words

basic
basically
basics
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Basically.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/basically. Accessed 30 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on basically

Nglish: Translation of basically for Spanish Speakers

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!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of sultry

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

Your vs. You're: How to Use Them Correctly
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
chain-question-mark
Missing Link Quiz July 2026 Five seconds to figure out the word that fits bot...
See All