by and large

Definition of by and largenext

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 Wedgewood had to be on his tootsies early — the first 11 minutes were a snooze-fest, by and large. Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 20 Apr. 2026 But by and large, most people are not going to see any savings. Kyle Cheromcha, The Drive, 1 Apr. 2026 Most importantly, the wine inside is, by and large … actually good. Kate Bernot, Outside, 30 Mar. 2026 Throughout the summit, the networkers were, by and large, wary of me, a representative of the fake news media evidently out to ruin their lives and stymie their future careers—apart from one intrepid college freshman who asked me about internship opportunities at this magazine. Gaby Del Valle, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for by and large
Recent Examples of Synonyms for by and large
Adverb
  • Social Security benefits – paid mostly to recipients who are older or retired – are typically scheduled to go out on Wednesdays.
    Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 12 May 2026
  • And yet the ceasefire has mostly held.
    Sudarsan Raghavan, New Yorker, 12 May 2026
Adverb
  • This week, Bonta joined a coalition of 22 attorneys general from mainly Democratic states submitting a comment letter to the Postal Service outlining their opposition.
    Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2026
  • While the city's streets are lined with anti-American billboards and posters, Tehran's Museum of Contemporary Art opened an exhibit this week of six works by three American Pop artists of the 1960s -- Roy Lichtenstein, Robert Indiana and James Rosenquist – mainly chosen for their anti-war themes.
    ABC News, ABC News, 8 May 2026
Adverb
  • Sloths primarily live in rainforests and are known as biological introverts for their highly specialized diets and survival mechanisms adapted over millions of years of evolution.
    Cristóbal Reyes, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 May 2026
  • Although hantaviruses are primarily spread through exposure to infected rodents or their feces or urine, the Andes virus is the only hantavirus type known to spread human-to-human.
    Lauren J. Young, Scientific American, 13 May 2026
Adverb
  • Over the next 30 years, Squeri moved upward to bigger and bigger jobs, chiefly in tech operations and commercial cards.
    Shawn Tully, Fortune, 6 May 2026
  • Hantavirus spreads chiefly when people inhale air contaminated with the virus, the California Department of Public Health said.
    Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 5 May 2026
Adverb
  • The candidates themselves seemed low-energy, even with their jabs — which were largely directed at Becerra, as Mark said.
    Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2026
  • Our former swing state now has become a red state through and through thanks largely to the new congressional districts which are stretched to inane proportions.
    Ann Marie Luft, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 May 2026
Adverb
  • The charges have Arcadia’s predominantly Asian American community worried about potential anti-Asian backlash, though city officials emphasize that Wang’s alleged misconduct occurred before her 2022 election to the City Council.
    Assistant Editor, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2026
  • In 2022, an 18-year-old white supremacist wearing body armor opened fire in a supermarket in a predominantly Black neighborhood in Buffalo, New York, killing 10 people before being taken into custody.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2026
Adverb
  • Coach Sean McVay basically lives in 11 personnel, with one running back, one tight end and three wide receivers.
    Nicki Jhabvala, New York Times, 15 May 2026
  • Look no further than the near-certain demise—even under best-case warming scenarios—of basically all of the world’s warm-water coral reefs and their various colorful fish.
    John Reid, The Atlantic, 14 May 2026
Adverb
  • The conflict has resulted in as many as 9,000 deaths and more than 40,000 injuries, principally in Iran but also in Lebanon, Iraq, Israel, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.
    Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 11 May 2026
  • The biggest beneficiaries of Gulf defense spending in recent years have been Western allies, principally the US.
    Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 13 Apr. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“By and large.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/by%20and%20large. Accessed 16 May. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on by and large

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