mainly
For the most
Mainly means for the most part or chiefly: The crowd was mainly tourists.
It indicates that something is predominantly but not exclusively true: I mainly work from home.
The word softens claims, acknowledging exceptions exist without naming them.
In the first place
- principallyMostly or primarily
- chieflyAbove all else
- fundamentallyAt the core level
- essentiallyAt its core nature
basically · predominantly · largely · mostly · substantially · significantly · first and foremost · above all
In most instances
- usuallyMost of the time
- typicallyIn the usual manner
- commonlyWith frequent occurrence
- normallyIn the usual manner
frequently · regularly · often · habitually · customarily · traditionally · ordinarily · as a rule
primarily
In the first place
- principallyMostly or primarily
- chieflyAbove all else
- fundamentallyAt the core level
essentially · basically · predominantly · largely · mostly · substantially · significantly · first and foremost · above all · in essence
generally
In most instances
normally · frequently · regularly · often · habitually · customarily · traditionally · ordinarily · as a rule · by and large
- -LY wordssoftly, loudly, quickly, slowly, happily
- clarifiersi.e., e.g., namely, meaning, specifically
- adverbsquickly, slowly, very, really, now
- intensifiersvery, really, extremely, absolutely, incredibly
- approximationsabout, approximately, around, roughly, almost
- sentence adverbsobviously, certainly, probably, possibly, perhaps
mainlyentirely
To the full extent
completely · totally · wholly · fully · absolutely
mainlysecondarily
In secondary importance
subordinately · incidentally · peripherally · marginally · tangentially
- main manClosest male friend
- main coursePrimary dish served
- main roadPrimary vehicular thoroughfare
- main characterStory's central figure
- main dishMeal's central course
- low maintenanceNeeding little attention
main, maintain, maintenance, mainstream, mainland, maintained, maintaining, mains, mainline