Synonyms for mainly
Most common
Synonyms by meaning
Adverb
1. Principally
principally, primarily, mostly, chiefly, largely, predominantly, usually, essentially, all things considered, by and large, all in all, above all, altogether
2. Lustily — of the production of a sound, loudly, powerfully
lustily, raucously, thunderously, earsplittingly rare
3. Strongly — forcefully, vigorously
Definitions
- adv. 1
Forcefully, vigorously.
- adv. 2
Of the production of a sound: loudly, powerfully.
- adv. 3
To a great degree; very much.
- adv. 4
Of a person or thing being the driving force influencing the outcome of an event; chiefly; certainly for the most part.
Example sentences
- mostly Tooth enamel is mostly composed of hydroxyapatite.
- primarily The language is primarily spoken within families.
- chiefly The committee is composed chiefly of professors.
- principally We're going to focus principally on Algeria.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| mainly | falling | |
| mostly | rising | |
| primarily | falling | |
| chiefly | falling | |
| principally | falling |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 6 letters
- mostly2
- 7 letters
- usually4, largely2, chiefly2, lustily
- 8 letters
- strongly2
- 9 letters
- extremely3, primarily4, raucously
- 10 letters
- altogether4, powerfully3
- 11 letters
- essentially4, principally3
- 12 letters
- thunderously
- 13 letters
- predominantly5, energetically5
- 14 letters
- earsplittingly
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (mostly2 = 2 syllables).
In other languages
- Français
- principalement
- Deutsch
- hauptsächlich