Definitions

by and large

ADJECTIVE

en masse

Synonyms

STRONGEST

altogether

WEAK

all in all all together as a body as a group as a whole as one bodily ensemble generally in a body in a group in a mass jointly on the whole together

Antonyms

WEAK

one at a time singly

ADVERB

altogether

Synonyms

STRONGEST

en masse generally

STRONG

all

WEAK

all in all all things considered all told bodily collectively conjointly everything considered everything included for the most part in all in sum in toto on the whole taken together

Antonyms

WEAK

incompletely partly

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 as a rule 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 a rule as is the custom as is usual as usual 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 as a rule 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

routinely

Synonyms

STRONGEST

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

WEAK

as a rule as is the custom as is usual as usual 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 a rule as is the custom as is usual as usual 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 a rule as is the custom as is usual as usual 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.

Long added she was "conscious always" of the security threat in Northern Ireland, but, "by and large", the police have been able to "suppress and disrupt" such activity.

From BBC • Apr. 29, 2026

Despite the fact that, by and large, Americans have never been richer External link, consumer sentiment is in the doldrums.

From Barron's • Apr. 2, 2026

Markets have, by and large, maintained their composure in the face of a 60% rise in the price of Brent in the last month.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 19, 2026

Local fire marshals, fire chiefs and firefighting unions have, by and large, opposed easing staircase requirements in the building code wherever they’ve been proposed.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 20, 2026

“These people by and large did not know anything about how to do the trade and expected Goldman to help them replicate it,” Burry wrote in an e-mail to his CFO.

From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis

by and large

Example Sentences

Related Words