as in usually
according to the usual course of things
ordinarily, I get off work at five, but this week I'm working late to meet a project deadline
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Recent Examples of ordinarily
The contract also reportedly contains a term stating that the school doesn’t have to enter him into the NCAA transfer portal; ordinarily, a school is obligated under NCAA rules to enter an athlete’s name once the athlete informs the school of their intent to transfer.
—
Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 8 Jan. 2026
The Energy Department doesn’t get involved in those decisions ordinarily.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 2 Jan. 2026
So were works that were ordinarily hung elsewhere in Florence.
—Jackson Arn, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
The board ordinarily consists of bipartisan members, but its current iteration is now made up entirely of Trump appointees, including Usha Vance, the wife of Vice President JD Vance, and the president’s chief of staff, Susie Wiles.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ordinarily
Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 8 Jan. 2026
The Energy Department doesn’t get involved in those decisions ordinarily.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 2 Jan. 2026
So were works that were ordinarily hung elsewhere in Florence.
—Jackson Arn, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
The board ordinarily consists of bipartisan members, but its current iteration is now made up entirely of Trump appointees, including Usha Vance, the wife of Vice President JD Vance, and the president’s chief of staff, Susie Wiles.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ordinarily
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ordinarily
Adverb
-
Jamal Murray usually saves his best for last, but Luka Doncic and the Lakers stole the third act of the show from him this time.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Aven targets consumers with prime and super prime FICO scores that are usually above 700.—
Jeff Kauflin,
Forbes.com,
21 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
Brake gently as needed - Brake normally if the vehicle has anti-lock brakes and pump brakes gently if in an older vehicle.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
7 Jan. 2026
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That design allows the attack to slip through protections that would normally stop malware in its tracks.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
7 Jan. 2026
Adverb
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Melatonin is a hormone that is naturally produced by the body to help regulate the sleep-wake cycle; typically, its levels increase during darkness and decrease during daylight, mirroring natural human circadian rhythms.—
Forbes.com,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
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Such spontaneous memorials are typically removed and their contents quietly disposed of.—
Oscar Holland,
CNN Money,
22 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ordinarily.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ordinarily. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.
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