generally

[ jen-er-uh-lee ]

adverb

1. usually; commonly; ordinarily:

   He generally comes home at noon.

   Antonyms: seldom

2. with respect to the larger part; for the most part:

   a generally accurate interpretation of the facts.

3. without reference to or disregarding particular persons, things, situations, etc., that may be an exception:

   generally speaking.

generally

/ ˈdʒɛnrəlɪ /

adverb

1. usually; as a rule
2. commonly or widely
3. without reference to specific details or facts; broadly

Word History and Origins

Origin of generally¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English; general + -ly

Synonym Study

See often.

Example Sentences

If they do in fact develop as we generally expect, iciness may continue to be featured more than snow.

From Washington Post

It's generally in the area of 20Hz, which sounds more like a series of clicks than a continual sound, and the whales produce it in second-long bursts separated by dozens of seconds.

From Ars Technica

Asking people questions, it demonstrates interest, it demonstrates concern, it can build rapport and relationships and people generally like being asked questions.

From Freakonomics

First of all, women and human figures generally represent a small number of figurines compared to animals and body parts.

From Popular-Science

While most Americans over that period have seen faster speeds and fewer caps on their ability to talk and text — plus higher bills — Lifeline plans generally have stayed the same.

From Washington Post

These generally come from the outside, from cultural pressures and messages.

From The Daily Beast

Genetics alone does not an eating disorder make, generally speaking, and Bulik points out that environment still plays a role.

From The Daily Beast

“People are generally diplomatic,” says Steinbrick of regulars dealing with the surge of new faces.

From The Daily Beast

They are not the actual traffickers, Yazbek says, so generally the other refugees protect their identity.

From The Daily Beast

For his part, husband James knew all along; historians generally agree he was in on it.

From The Daily Beast

Women generally consider consequences in love, seldom in resentment.

From Project Gutenberg

One wonders why even some of the common British Ferns are not more generally cultivated in rooms.

From Project Gutenberg

It was generally lauded by Spaniards, whilst it filled all classes of natives with indignation.

From Project Gutenberg

Though the average speaker is generally limited by one type of voice, which he varies somewhat, it is not often disguised.

From Project Gutenberg

They generally occur together, but the pigment is not infrequently present alone.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• broadly
• commonly
• customarily
• largely
• mostly
• normally
• ordinarily
• publicly
• roughly
• typically
• universally
• usually
• widely