ordinarily

adverb

Synonyms of ordinarilynext
: in an ordinary manner or to an ordinary extent: such as
a
: in the ordinary course of events : usually
She was ordinarily very busy in the morning.
the jobs ordinarily handled by junior staff members
… cortisol, a hormone which ordinarily comes into play in situations of bodily stress …Maggie Scarf
Ordinarily, the immune system of any mammal will work to fight off a fungal parasite.David Quammen
b
: to the usual extent : moderately
It must suffice for him to be ordinarily honest according to the ordinary honesty of the world's ways …Anthony Trollope
c
: in a commonplace or inferior way : without distinction
A friend of mine … has two apartments on the 3rd floor, very ordinarily furnished …Walt Whitman

Examples of ordinarily in a Sentence

ordinarily, I get off work at five, but this week I'm working late to meet a project deadline
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.
Scans ultimately revealed a patent foramen ovale, or PFO — a small opening between the heart’s upper chambers that ordinarily closes shortly after birth. Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 23 Aug. 2026 After video reviews by the referee, presented in slow motion, Balogun received a red card during the USMNT’s round-of-32 victory, which ordinarily would have ruled the striker out of the subsequent game against Belgium. Adam Crafton, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026 Norman then introduced legislation waiving the five-year deadline that ordinarily limits consideration of Medal of Honor recommendations. Ethan Rocke, Charlotte Observer, 20 Aug. 2026 This is applicable in equal measures to leaders ordinarily deemed benevolent, and those considered destructive. Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ordinarily

Word History

First Known Use

1555, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ordinarily was in 1555

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Cite this Entry

“Ordinarily.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ordinarily. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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