mostly
MOHST-lee
Mostly (adv) means For the greater part; mainly or generally. Example: “The garden is mostly lawn, with a few flower beds along the fence.”
adv
1
For the greater part; mainly or generally.
"They're mostly good people, although they have made a few mistakes."
"The garden is mostly lawn, with a few flower beds along the fence."
"The audience was mostly students."
"It rained mostly in the afternoons that week."
How to use mostly
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishUsed to say something is true in most cases, but not necessarily all.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
mostly true
mostly used for
mostly because
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like mostly.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The garden is _____ lawn, with a few flower beds along the fence.
Etymology
Formed from "most" plus the adverb-forming suffix "-ly".
Synonyms
View more →
by and large
in the main
more often than not
predominantly
largely
principally
all in all
all things considered
altogether
broadly
as a rule
basically
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for mostly
See all rhymes for mostly →Frequently asked questions
What does “mostly” mean?
The word “mostly” means for the greater part; mainly or generally. In plain terms, used to say something is true in most cases, but not necessarily all.
How do you pronounce “mostly”?
“Mostly” is pronounced MOHST-lee (/ˈmoʊstli/ in IPA).
How do you use “mostly” in a sentence?
Here is “mostly” used in a sentence: “The audience was mostly students.”
What is another word for “mostly”?
Words with a similar meaning to “mostly” include by and large, in the main, more often than not, predominantly, largely and principally.
What is the opposite of “mostly”?
The opposite of “mostly” — its antonyms — are almost and slightly.
What part of speech is “mostly”?
“Mostly” is an adverb.
Is “mostly” a common word?
“Mostly” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
What is the difference between mostly and mainly?
The two are very close and often interchangeable. Mostly leans toward 'for the greatest part' or 'most of the time,' suggesting a large majority. Mainly leans toward 'chiefly' or 'above all,' pointing to the most important reason or element. In everyday speech, either usually works fine.
Does mostly mean always?
No. Mostly means for the greater part, not entirely. If something is mostly true, it is true in most respects but not every one; if you are mostly at home, you are there most of the time but not constantly. It leaves room for exceptions, whereas 'always' allows none.
What is an example of mostly in a sentence?
You might say, 'The audience was mostly students,' meaning students formed the majority but not everyone. Other examples include 'I mostly work from home' or 'the weather was mostly sunny,' where mostly signals that something is generally or largely the case, allowing for some exceptions.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include mostly:
