commonly

American  

[kom-uhn-lee] / ˈkɒm ən li /

adverb

1. often; frequently.

   commonly used words.

2. usually; generally; ordinarily.

   Synonyms:

   routinely, customarily, normally

3. in a common manner.

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commonly British  

/ ˈkɒmənlɪ /

adverb

1. usually; ordinarily

   he was commonly known as Joe

2. derogatory in a coarse or vulgar way

   she dresses commonly

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Etymology

Origin of commonly

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English communeli(che); equivalent to common + -ly

Explanation

The adverb commonly is good for talking about something that usually or ordinarily happens. Mice, for example, are commonly afraid of cats. Commonly describes an action that's to be expected. You could say that the bus commonly picks you up fifteen minutes late, or that colds and flu are commonly passed around between kids at school. The earliest use of commonly, around 1300, was to mean "in a way common to all," from the adjective common, or "belonging to all." The Latin root communis means "in common, public, or shared by all or many."

Example Sentences

The process takes time and is physically exacting; the women must beat the cloth together in rhythm, and to do so they use a tool more commonly associated with sailors pulling ropes: They sing.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

Tesla’s were the most commonly searched for vehicle among used EVs on the site, according to Cars.com data.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2026

Swan then continues, “and it is tightly linked to chemicals that are commonly used in plastic.”

From Slate • Apr. 16, 2026

The estimated cost was $42,000 per quality-adjusted life-year gained, a commonly used measure of value in healthcare.

From Science Daily • Apr. 16, 2026

Racial justice advocates, if they should choose this path, will be required to provide uncomfortable answers to commonly asked questions.

From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander

Related Words

• frequently
• generally
• more often than not
• ordinarily
• regularly