generally

adverb

gen·​er·​al·​ly ˈjen-rə-lē How to pronounce generally (audio)
ˈje-nə-,
ˈje-nər-lē
Synonyms of generallynext
: 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

Synonyms

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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
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.
Some sides generally seem unfazed by the ploy, with Liverpool yet to be beaten in the Premier League across the 29 times they have been turned around since 2016-17. — Thom Harris, The Athletic, 13 Mar. 2025 Code enforcement is generally complaint-driven, said city’s Code and Housing Enforcement Chief Peter Lemos. — Mathew Miranda, Sacramento Bee, 12 Mar. 2025 Viewpoint This article generally aligns with a Center point of view. — Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2025 The percentage of students scoring on grade level in reading on the state test has generally hovered between 28-33% since 2014. — Silas Allen, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for generally

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

Phrases Containing generally

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Cite this Entry

“Generally.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/generally. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.

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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

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