generally

adverb

gen·​er·​al·​ly ˈjen-rə-lē How to pronounce generally (audio)
ˈje-nə-, 
ˈje-nər-lē
Synonyms of generallynext
: in a general manner: such as
a
: in disregard of specific instances and with regard to an overall picture
generally speaking
b
: as a rule : usually

Synonyms of generally

Relevance
See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of generally in a Sentence

He talked generally about his plans. I had a generally good day. It generally takes about a month for the shipment to arrive. When stocks are up, bonds are generally down. This town is generally regarded as a good place to raise kids.
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.
Being registered to vote when not eligible is a misdemeanor under federal law, generally prosecuted on an individual basis. — Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 29 Oct. 2026 The result surprised the researchers because nuclear spins are generally much less responsive to external electrical signals than electron spins. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 28 Oct. 2026 This pattern involving Chinese vessels stood out even when compared with the generally high activity of US and Russian research ships on the high seas. — Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 28 Oct. 2026 Although pumpkin seeds and walnuts are generally considered safe to consume, there are a few precautions worth mentioning. — Brittany Lubeck, Verywell Health, 28 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for generally

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of generally was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing generally

Browse Nearby Words

general listing
generally
generally speaking
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Generally.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/generally. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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Kids Definition

generally

adverb
gen·​er·​al·​ly ˈjen-(ə-)rə-lē How to pronounce generally (audio)
ˈjen-ər-lē
1
: for the most part
generally speaking
2
: as a rule : usually
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