mainly

adverb

main·​ly ˈmān-lē How to pronounce mainly (audio)
1
obsolete : in a forceful manner
2
: for the most part : chiefly

Examples of mainly in a Sentence

you mainly need to focus on improving your golf swing
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Organized, potent thunderstorms are forecast to ramp up starting Thursday, April 17, with subsequent rounds of severe weather right through Easter on Sunday, April 20, mainly focused on the central United States, AccuWeather said. Doyle Rice, USA Today, 18 Apr. 2025 More aggressive immigration enforcement actions took place last month, mainly at Ivy League and elite campuses in the Northeast, including Columbia University, where foreign students who supported pro-Palestinian protests were arrested for deportation. Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2025 On Thursday, the Dow's losses were mainly attributed to UnitedHealth Group's selloff after the company cut its annual profit forecast. Sarah Min, CNBC, 18 Apr. 2025 Meteorologists predict Friday’s storms will develop mainly south of a line from Ottawa, Kansas to Macon, Missouri. Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 18 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for mainly

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of mainly was in the 13th century

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Cite this Entry

“Mainly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mainly. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.

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