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by and large

adverb

Definition of by and largenext
as in mostly
for the most part by and large, that information is accurate

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 by and large The west Sonoma coast is, by and large, a forbidding place, even for grapes. — Patrick Comiskey, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2026 There are exceptions but by and large those awards are for a select few. — Darren Cooper, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026 Politicians, by and large, opt for quick fixes, like buying the latest firefighting gear, which makes for a better photo op. — Gerry Hadden, Christian Science Monitor, 27 July 2026 Monday was, by and large, a refreshing day in the Love Island villa. — Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 7 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for by and large
Recent Examples of Synonyms for by and large
  1. mostly
  2. mainly
  3. primarily
  4. chiefly
  5. largely
  6. predominantly
  7. basically
  8. principally
Adverb
  • The rest of the women have pretty much accepted Vicki’s temperament by now and mostly operate around her, enjoying the refreshing Miami energy after the bumpiness of the previous parties.
    — Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 21 Sep. 2026
  • The film’s cast is mostly made up of tribal non-actors, but Anghlong Konyak is its captivating center, as a man whose stubbornness against change sits alongside a lingering grief over his fading way of life.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of mostly
Adverb
  • His reliance on the cane has slowed him down, so Crouch has shifted roles, from field hand to recruiter, operating mainly as the guy behind the keyboard, lining up volunteers to plant, scout, harvest and build the next nursery.
    — Jessie Schiewe, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2026
  • Potting soils have not contained soil from the ground for years, and have been mainly combinations of peat moss, perlite and vermiculite.
    — Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of mainly
Adverb
  • The culprits are Aedes aegypti, primarily daytime biters that thrive in urban and suburban areas and breed in flowerpots, buckets and other smaller containers, said Steve Harrison, manager of Orange County Mosquito Control.
    — Stephen Hudak, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Zeek Biggers has worked as a six-technique defensive end, primarily playing on obvious running downs.
    — Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of primarily
Adverb
  • Dostoyevsky’s sniveling devil comes closest to portraying the man chiefly responsible for organizing the Final Solution.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Many of these business owners are driven chiefly by a desire to be their own bosses rather than to become rich, Zwick said.
    — Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of chiefly
Adverb
  • Vargo has largely self-funded her run for commissioner through personal loans to her campaign totaling more than $77,000, according to campaign finance records.
    — Stephen Hudak, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Sep. 2026
  • The review has intensified debate over Israel’s claims that some slain reporters were militants, as foreign journalists remain largely barred from entering Gaza.
    — Joseph Krauss, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of largely
Adverb
  • In 2020, researchers described nearly 1,000 independent horizontal transfer events in 307 vertebrate genomes, predominantly in fish.
    — Jake Buehler, Quanta Magazine, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Cousins then directed a three-play, 43-second drive that ended with White’s second TD catch and a 24-14 lead in front of a raucous, predominantly Raiders-supporting crowd at SoFi Stadium.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of predominantly
Adverb
  • Stellar mass black holes are basically the corpses of dead stars.
    — David Brooks, The Atlantic, 20 Sep. 2026
  • That’s basically 3% of annual revenue that exceeds $25 million for both projects.
    — Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of basically
Adverb
  • Federal regulators already treat it differently from many other digital assets, and the legislation was principally intended to create a broader framework governing how cryptocurrencies are issued, sold and regulated.
    — Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Asking an 18- or 21-year-old athlete to sacrifice some portion of a present opportunity for an uncertain benefit that may principally accrue to someone else five or 10 years in the future is an inherently difficult organizing proposition.
    — Chris Corr, Sportico.com, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of principally

Browse Nearby Words

by-and-bys
by and large
by-blow
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Cite this Entry

“By and large.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/by%20and%20large. Accessed 25 Sep. 2026.

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