mainly

Valid in Scrabble

Scrabble points
11
Words With Friends
13
Letters
6
Pronunciation
/ˈmeɪnli/ (UK)

Definition of mainly

4 senses · 1 part of speech · etymology included

adv

  1. (not-comparable)Chiefly; for the most part.
    “She had Lord James' collar in one big fist and she pounded the table with the other and talked a blue streak. Nobody could make out plain what she said, for she was mainly jabbering Swede lingo, but there was English enough, of a kind, to give us some idee.”
    “If you’re looking for the most breathable mask, Lukovics says, “Cotton is preferable, mainly for absorbing moisture/sweat.” She says multiple layers may be more protective but will also impact breathability.”
See all 4 definitions

adv

  1. (not-comparable)Chiefly; for the most part.
    “She had Lord James' collar in one big fist and she pounded the table with the other and talked a blue streak. Nobody could make out plain what she said, for she was mainly jabbering Swede lingo, but there was English enough, of a kind, to give us some idee.”
    “If you’re looking for the most breathable mask, Lukovics says, “Cotton is preferable, mainly for absorbing moisture/sweat.” She says multiple layers may be more protective but will also impact breathability.”
  2. (not-comparable, obsolete)Forcefully, vigorously.
    “Such breadth of ſhoulders as might mainely beare Olde Atlas burthen, […]”
    “Mainly they all attonce vpon him laid, / And sore beset on euery side around […]”
  3. (not-comparable, obsolete)Of the production of a sound: loudly, powerfully.
    “But in the end, mainly crying out, he fell to raling and wringing his master, upbraiding him that he was not a true Philosopher[…].”
  4. (not-comparable, obsolete)To a great degree; very much.

Definitions from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.

Etymology

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

Anagrams of mainly

3 plays · some not in Scrabble

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