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 People tend to vote their individual economic interests, but the only people who really had a stake in this were, by and large, not residents of the city of San Diego. — Lori Weisberg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 July 2026 The men and women who serve in Congress, by and large, love our country. — CBS News, 28 June 2026 The Montblanc Collection is a fantastic ode to the label’s heritage, but a warming and wintry one by and large (leather, patchouli, oud, incense). — Adam Hurly, Robb Report, 25 June 2026 But the Knicks also proved that windows of contention, by and large, no longer exist in the NBA. — Tony Jones, New York Times, 23 June 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
  • As a result, each filament is mostly limited to one type of movement.
    — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Onboard are mostly adult couples looking for an upscale, yet relaxed experience.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of mostly
Adverb
  • The show, the first ever to be mainly in Spanish, would end up courting significant conservative backlash, to the point that Kid Rock and Turning Point USA elected to put on their own alternative halftime show.
    — Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Previously they were used mainly for breaching, blasting doors open, but demand has surged.
    — David Hambling, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of mainly
Adverb
  • Is this style choice primarily a form of self-expression, or is my teen trying to cope with deeper emotional distress?
    — Liz Regalia, Parents, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Unlike conventional battery plants focused primarily on cells, the Heze project brings together battery-cell manufacturing, materials production and energy-storage system integration.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of primarily
Adverb
  • Rochlin, who used to work in mosquito control, pointed out that his predecessors in New York were chiefly concerned with malaria.
    — Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Building a network is capital intensive, requiring continuous, steady investment in both towers and spectrum —- drawing capital away from businesses that investors more richly reward, chiefly AI.
    — Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 29 July 2026
Definition of chiefly
Adverb
  • While the good-paying white-collar jobs in the ‘burbs are getting slashed, the substantial workforce Capital One inherited from Discover in the city of Chicago largely has been spared.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026
  • In League Two, tweaks to SCMP were largely thrown out because they were seen as worthless.
    — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of largely
Adverb
  • Roughly two-thirds of those workers are migrants, predominantly young women recruited from South Asia on three-year contracts.
    — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • But tensions have opened up between data center boosters and some community organizations that want to see more jobs and economic benefits go to local residents, especially predominantly poor Hispanic farm and food processing workers.
    — Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of predominantly
Adverb
  • There was basically no difference in earnings growth between rich and poor last month, according to Bank of America.
    — David Goldman, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Without oxygen-carrying blood, the tissue in the area basically dies.
    — Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of basically
Adverb
  • Medicaid Fraud Control Units were principally responsible for investigating providers, while also prosecuting the abuse and neglect of patients whose care was billed to Medicaid.
    — Ben Zdencanovic, The Conversation, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Back in those early days there was talk of Newcastle winning the Premier League in the next five to 10 years, principally from the mouth of Amanda Staveley, a 10 per cent minority partner of PIF who sold her stake and left Tyneside in July 2024.
    — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 2 Aug. 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 16 Aug. 2026.

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