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.
Details of the contract have been mostly kept secret, as both companies said the agreement contained confidential business information. — Sydney Sasser, Arkansas Online, 1 Sep. 2026 Market on Close The analyst corps that covers Nvidia is mostly adoring. — Michael Santoli, CNBC, 31 Aug. 2026 The new songs, as ever, are mostly personal reflections, sometimes going back to experiences years earlier. — Steve Appleford, SPIN, 31 Aug. 2026 Conditions at Chicago’s Midway Airport Monday afternoon were 88 degrees and mostly cloudy. — Finnegan Belleau, Chicago Tribune, 31 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 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

mostly

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