mostly

adverb

most·​ly ˈmōst-lē How to pronounce mostly (audio)
Synonyms of mostlynext
: for the greatest part : mainly
a mostly accurate story

Synonyms of mostly

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Examples of mostly in a Sentence

the weather this month has been mostly mild
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In the neighborhood, which is actually the oldest part of Prague, there are mostly residential buildings, embassies, and local offices. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Aug. 2026 Payments are mostly made in cash, with the money routed through multiple middlemen. — Alexis Okeowo, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026 The monsters are mostly metaphorical in this book, but the middle school emotions are vividly real. — Literary Hub, 3 Aug. 2026 While other plot details have mostly been kept under wraps, fans got their first glimpse at the movie when the first trailer was released in April. — Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 3 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for mostly

Word History

First Known Use

1563, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of mostly was in 1563

Rhymes for mostly

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Browse Nearby Words

mostlings
mostly
most of the time
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Cite this Entry

“Mostly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mostly. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

mostly

adverb
most·​ly ˈmōst-lē How to pronounce mostly (audio)
: for the greatest part : mainly

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