mainly

1. (not-comparable) Chiefly; for the most part.
2. (not-comparable, obsolete) Forcefully, vigorously.
3. (not-comparable, obsolete) Of the production of a sound: loudly, powerfully.
4. (not-comparable, obsolete) To a great degree; very much.

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈmeɪnli/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: maynly

In summary

From Middle English maynly; equivalent to main + -ly.

Synonyms

chiefly

principally

mostly

primarily

especially

above all

largely

for the most part

predominantly

in particular

notably

generally

in the main

particularly

importantly

in general

most of all

on the whole

first and foremost

basically

specially

usually

capitally

in the first place

by rights

by and large

lastly

most

most likely

predominatingly

nearly

at most

out and away

aboriginally

practically

as such

predominately

pre-eminently

almost

actually

really

superlatively

essentially

closely

fundamentally

greatly

supremely

in chief

Sentences

These are social birds which eat mainly small fruit and only rarely take insects .

He mainly performed at nightclubs and on the street .

The element antimony is mainly used in flame retardants .

He played mainly in domestic chess tournaments and Finnish Chess Championships .