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Definitions

mainly

[meyn-lee] / ˈmeɪn li /
ADVERB
for the most part
Synonyms
STRONG
chiefly primarily principally
WEAK
above all essentially first and foremost generally in general in the main largely most of all mostly on the whole overall predominantly substantially to the greatest extent usually
Antonyms
STRONG
secondarily

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.

In the past, higher rates of hypertension were mainly seen in wealthier Western countries.

From Science Daily • Apr. 3, 2026

No less than half of the silver is used in industry, mainly for electronics, solar panels, and medical applications.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

Like David Lang, Isamu Noguchi was a native Angeleno who spent his career mainly in New York.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

Innovators and entrepreneurs such as Ford and George Pullman, discussed on visits to Detroit and Chicago, respectively, figure mainly as exploiters of the working class.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

A credit default swap was confusing mainly because it wasn’t really a swap at all.

From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.