chiefly

Meaning

Adv

1. Especially or primarily; above all.
2. Mainly or principally; almost entirely.

Adj

of or relating to a chief

Synonyms

mainly

principally

primarily

especially

above all

mostly

particularly

predominantly

notably

in particular

largely

in the main

specially

first of all

first and foremost

firstly

chief

pre-eminently

essentially

specifically

apart

at most

basically

for the most part

generally

importantly

in chief

most of all

on the whole

out and away

practically

predominately

separately

aboriginally

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈtʃiːf.li/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: chefly

In summary

From Middle English chefly; equivalent to chief + -ly.