Definitions

as a rule

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commonly adv.
frequently adv.
generally adv.
habitually adv.
largely adv.
mostly adv.
normally adv.
ordinarily adv.
routinely adv.
typically adv.
usually adv.

ADVERB

commonly

Synonyms

STRONGEST

frequently generally more often than not ordinarily regularly

WEAK

by ordinary

Antonyms

STRONGEST

infrequently rarely seldom

WEAK

uncommonly unusually

ADVERB

frequently

Synonyms

STRONGEST

again and again generally intermittently many times often periodically regularly time and again usually

STRONG

oft oftentimes ofttimes

WEAK

at regular intervals at short intervals at times by ordinary customarily every now and then habitually in many instances in quick succession many a time much not infrequently not seldom ordinarily over and over recurrently spasmodically successively thick and fast very often

Antonyms

STRONGEST

rarely seldom

WEAK

infrequently not much uncommonly

ADVERB

generally

Synonyms

STRONGEST

broadly commonly customarily largely mostly normally ordinarily publicly roughly typically universally usually widely

WEAK

about all in all almost always altogether approximately by and large chiefly conventionally en masse extensively for the most part habitually on average on the whole overall popularly practically predominantly primarily principally regularly roundly thereabouts

Antonyms

STRONGEST

rarely sometimes unusually

WEAK

exactly particularly seldom specifically

ADVERB

habitually

Synonyms

STRONGEST

commonly customarily

WEAK

as is the custom as is usual as usual by and large consistently frequently generally in the main mainly more often than not most often mostly naturally normally now and again now and then occasionally oft

ADVERB

largely

Synonyms

STRONGEST

broadly chiefly generally mostly predominantly principally widely

WEAK

abundantly by and large commodiously comprehensively considerably copiously expansively extensively extravagantly generously grandly immoderately imposingly in a big way in a grand manner lavishly liberally magnificently mainly on a large scale overall primarily prodigally prodigiously voluminously

ADVERB

mostly

Synonyms

STRONGEST

chiefly essentially frequently largely often particularly predominantly principally regularly usually

WEAK

above all almost entirely customarily for the most part in many instances many times most often on the whole overall primarily

Antonyms

STRONGEST

infrequently rarely seldom

ADVERB

normally

Synonyms

STRONGEST

commonly ordinarily regularly typically

WEAK

habitually

Antonyms

WEAK

abnormally never

ADVERB

ordinarily

Synonyms

STRONGEST

commonly customarily generally normally regularly

WEAK

frequently habitually in general

Antonyms

STRONGEST

rarely

WEAK

infrequently sometimes

ADVERB

routinely

Synonyms

STRONGEST

commonly consistently customarily frequently generally habitually normally occasionally often ordinarily regularly sometimes typically

WEAK

as is the custom as is usual as usual by and large in the main mainly more often than not most often mostly naturally now and again now and then on the whole once and again per usual

Antonyms

STRONGEST

infrequently never rarely seldom sometimes uncommonly

ADVERB

typically

Synonyms

STRONGEST

commonly consistently customarily frequently generally mostly naturally normally occasionally often ordinarily regularly routinely sometimes

WEAK

as is the custom as is usual as usual by and large habitually in the main mainly more often than not most often now and again now and then on the whole once and again per usual

Antonyms

STRONGEST

infrequently never rarely seldom sometimes uncommonly

ADVERB

usually

Synonyms

STRONGEST

commonly consistently customarily frequently generally mostly normally occasionally ordinarily regularly routinely sometimes

WEAK

as is the custom as is usual as usual by and large habitually in the main mainly more often than not most often now and again now and then on the whole once and again

Antonyms

STRONGEST

infrequently never rarely seldom sometimes uncommonly

WEAK

exceptionally unusually

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

as a rule

Nonpublic investments like private equity are, as a rule, actively managed.

From Salon ● Jul. 9, 2026

"Scheduled elections should, as a rule, go ahead as planned, and only be postponed in exceptional circumstances," said a spokeswoman.

From BBC ● Jan. 23, 2026

First of all, as a rule, Mark and I are not generally for throwing sandwiches.

From Slate ● Nov. 7, 2025

Or to honesty, as a rule, though he insists that this account of his disastrous Venetian sojourn is genuine.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2025

Physicists as a rule are not overattentive to the pronouncements of Swiss patent office clerks, and so, despite the abundance of useful tidings, Einstein’s papers attracted little notice.

From "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson

as a rule

Example Sentences

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