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Definitions

in the main

ADVERB
chiefly
Synonyms
STRONGEST
especially essentially largely mostly predominantly principally
STRONG
mainly primarily
WEAK
above all in general in the first place on the whole overall usually
Antonyms
WEAK
unimportantly
ADVERB
habitually
Synonyms
STRONGEST
commonly customarily
WEAK
as a rule as is the custom as is usual as usual by and large consistently frequently generally mainly more often than not most often mostly naturally normally now and again now and then occasionally oft
ADVERB
mainly
Synonyms
STRONG
chiefly primarily principally
WEAK
above all essentially first and foremost generally in general largely most of all mostly on the whole overall predominantly substantially to the greatest extent usually
Antonyms
STRONG
secondarily
ADVERB
principally
Synonyms
STRONGEST
basically chiefly first and foremost generally importantly largely mostly notably particularly predominantly
STRONG
primarily
WEAK
above all before anything else cardinally dominantly eminently especially essentially first of all for the most part fundamentally in the first place materially peculiarly preeminently prevailingly prevalently substantially superlatively supremely to a great degree universally vitally
Antonyms
WEAK
secondarily trivially
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 by and large 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
substantially
Synonyms
STRONGEST
considerably essentially extensively heavily largely materially really
WEAK
in essence in fact in reality in substance mainly much
Antonyms
STRONGEST
slightly
WEAK
insignificantly
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 by and large habitually 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 by and large habitually 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.

Iran announced alternative routes for ships travelling through the Strait of Hormuz, citing the risk of sea mines in the main zone of the vital waterway.

From Barron's • Apr. 9, 2026

Effectively none of the company’s seat growth this year will be in the main cabin, Chief Executive Ed Bastian said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 23, 2026

Objectively, Russo's record in the main forward role is excellent.

From BBC • Mar. 23, 2026

Located in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, Psyche ranks as the 10th-most massive asteroid and the largest known object made primarily of metal, measuring about 140 miles across.

From Science Daily • Mar. 17, 2026

The tower was made of wood and housed a large iron smokestack, which vented three boilers located in the main building below.

From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson