generally

adverb

gen·​er·​al·​ly ˈjen-rə-lē How to pronounce generally (audio)
ˈje-nə-,
ˈje-nər-lē
: in a general manner: such as
a
: in disregard of specific instances and with regard to an overall picture
generally speaking
b
: as a rule : usually

Examples of generally in a Sentence

He talked generally about his plans. I had a generally good day. It generally takes about a month for the shipment to arrive. When stocks are up, bonds are generally down. This town is generally regarded as a good place to raise kids.
Recent Examples on the Web Children may receive the news differently, but parents generally know best how to deliver it. Amber Ferguson, Washington Post, 23 Mar. 2024 The deals generally follow the pattern set by the TV/Theatrical agreement in other respects, with 7% increases in scale wages retroactive to July 1, followed by increases of 4% and 3.5% in the subsequent years of the contract. Gene Maddaus, Variety, 23 Mar. 2024 Propylene glycol is generally nontoxic and structurally similar to glycerin, which is used to thicken the ink. John Swierk, CBS News, 23 Mar. 2024 In fact, this opening paragraph isn’t even numbered: legal filings like this generally have every paragraph numbered. Sarah Jeong, The Verge, 22 Mar. 2024 Penumbral lunar eclipses are generally less obvious and dramatic compared to other types of lunar eclipses. The Arizona Republic, 22 Mar. 2024 Another point to consider is the ignition method: some models will require a lighter or matches (which are generally not waterproof) while some camp stoves can be ignited with a push button built in, known as a striker. Lauren Breedlove, Travel + Leisure, 21 Mar. 2024 The gay men were breezy, bossy, confident; the straight men were generally hapless and abashed. Mark Harris Rf. Alvarez, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2024 This type of bonus generally comes with extremely high wagering requirements but gives players a limited amount of free play with a chance at winning real money at the end. Sponsored Content, The Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'generally.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of generally was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near generally

Cite this Entry

“Generally.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/generally. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

generally

adverb
gen·​er·​al·​ly ˈjen-(ə-)rə-lē How to pronounce generally (audio)
ˈjen-ər-lē
1
: for the most part
generally speaking
2
: as a rule : usually

More from Merriam-Webster on generally

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