mostly

adverb

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

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.
The desert sand at the test site is composed mostly of grains of quartz and feldspar, with small crystals of calcite, hornblende, and augite mixed in. David Bressan, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025 The grade are calculated mostly based on how students do on state exams in language arts, math, science and social students. Zoey Thomas, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 July 2025 There are songs about new flirtations and about global devastation, but mostly there are songs about unbearable heartbreak, regrowth, and survival. Jonathan Bernstein, Rolling Stone, 15 July 2025 The victims were mostly young, gay men Baumeister had lured to Fox Hollow. Kristine Phillips, IndyStar, 15 July 2025 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Mostly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mostly. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

mostly

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

More from Merriam-Webster on mostly

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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