Definitions

by and large

Part of Speech:

All (8) Adjective (1) Adverb (7)

Jump To:

en masse adj.
altogether adv.
generally adv.
habitually adv.
largely adv.
routinely adv.
typically adv.
usually adv.

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.

See Examples For:

by and large

These were men who by and large no longer trust bankers, if they ever did.

From Slate ● Sep. 20, 2026

The global oil market is under stress from the Iran war, but by and large it does a good job of matching supply and demand.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 30, 2026

“In general … people who want to work, by and large, are holding or finding jobs,” Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh said on Friday.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 29, 2026

“Quite frankly, Californians are, by and large, looking for viable alternatives. They’re looking towards the California Republican Party,” Chairwoman Corrin Rankin told reporters.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 12, 2026

Although Dowland used ‘Flow, my tears’ as the basis for a set of purely instrumental pieces called Lachrimae, or Seaven Teares for strings and lute, songs remained, by and large, his format of choice.

From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall

by and large

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Related Words