You use mostly to indicate that a statement is generally true, for example true about the majority of a group of things or people, true most of the time, or true in most respects.
I am working with mostly highly motivated people.
Cars are mostly metal.
...men and women, mostly in their 30s.
Her own twelve pictures sold fairly well, mostly to friends and family.
They have mostly invested their money in expensive real estate.
Synonyms: mainly, largely, chiefly, principally More Synonyms of mostly
More Synonyms of mostly
mostly in British English
(ˈməʊstlɪ)
adverb
1.
almost entirely; chiefly
2.
on many or most occasions; usually
mostly in American English
(ˈmoʊstli)
adverb
1.
for the most part
2.
chiefly; principally
3.
usually; generally
Examples of 'mostly' in a sentence
mostly
Defence is mostly about cooperation with partner.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Mostly, people would only go to the newest.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
The funds will mostly be used to reduce debt of about 1.35 billion.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Mostly it was people such as ourselves, buying chicken feed in those faded checked shirts that only farmers wear.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It's mostly about the greens.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It's mostly just about having fun - but very smart fun.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They have come here from Iceland, mostly in family groups.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The veterans were mostly people who had served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The Norse colony expanded to a few thousand people who mostly farmed, despite a precariously short growing season.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
What they cannot say is that their jobs mostly consist of inglorious compromise.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Slightly overlong but mostly good family fun.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Some people mostly notice what is the same about things.
O'Connor, Joseph & Seymour, John Training with N.L.P. (1994)
This may be mostly true of individuals who are highly emotionally invested.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The next few minutes of my life are mostly about clinging on and hoping.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The music on these two discs consists mostly of arrangements of other works.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
People are mostly wondering how to arrange their faces afterwards.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The feelings of jealousy are mostly about relationships rather than about objects.
Pearce, Dr John Families and Friends - how to help your child form happy relationships. (1989)
It consists mostly of couples in their fifties who are wearing shiny shoes and frilly shirts.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
People think race riding is mostly about pushing and pulling.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Thankfully, my family were mostly very supportive.
The Sun (2015)
It says demand is mostly for family houses in good villages for about 1.25m.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
They would have had access to lots of rich and famous people, mostly through their parents.
The Sun (2008)
It's mostly big old family houses there.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Mostly, people stay with people they know well.
Thomas Blaikie Blaikie's Guide to Modern Manners (2005)
If the procedure you used was mostly standard, your report should emphasize the features that are new.
Porush, David A Short Guide to Writing About Science (1995)
There are only a handful of mobile phones in the country at present, mostly used by government officials and security services.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
In other languages
mostly
British English: mostly /ˈməʊstlɪ/ ADVERB
You use mostly to indicate that a statement is true about the majority of a group of things or people, true most of the time, or true in most respects.
I work with mostly highly motivated people.
American English: mostly
Arabic: فِي الْأَغْلَبِ
Brazilian Portuguese: na maioria das vezes
Chinese: 大部分
Croatian: uglavnom
Czech: většinou
Danish: for det meste
Dutch: grotendeels
European Spanish: principalmente
Finnish: enimmäkseen
French: principalement
German: größtenteils
Greek: κυρίως
Italian: perlopiù
Japanese: たいてい
Korean: 대부분
Norwegian: for det meste
Polish: przeważnie
European Portuguese: na maioria das vezes
Romanian: în mare parte
Russian: по большей части
Latin American Spanish: principalmente
Swedish: mest
Thai: ส่วนมาก
Turkish: çoğunlukla
Ukrainian: переважно
Vietnamese: hầu hết là
Chinese translation of 'mostly'
mostly
(ˈməustlɪ)
adv
(= chiefly) 主要 (zhǔyào)
(= usually) 通常 (tōngcháng)
1 (adverb)
Definition
almost entirely
I am working with mostly highly motivated people.
Synonyms
mainly
The birds live mainly on nectar.
largely
I largely work with people who are already motivated.
chiefly
a committee composed of leaders of the rival factions
principally
This is principally because the major export markets are slowing.
primarily
Public order is primarily an urban problem.
above all
Above all, chairs should be comfortable.
on the whole
On the whole, people are travelling for pleasure much more these days.
predominantly
The landscape has remained predominantly rural in appearance.
for the most part
For the most part, they try to keep out of local disputes.
almost entirely
2 (adverb)
Definition
on many or most occasions
We mostly go to clubs, or round to a friend's house.
Synonyms
generally
We generally say and feel too much about these things.
usually
The best information about hotels usually comes from friends.
on the whole
most often
as a rule
As a rule, these tourists take far too many souvenirs with them.
customarily
Marriages in medieval Europe were customarily arranged by the families.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of above all
Definition
most of all
Above all, chairs should be comfortable.
Synonyms
most of all,
chiefly,
mainly,
especially,
essentially,
basically,
principally,
primarily,
in the first place,
first of all,
at the end of the day (informal),
predominantly,
most importantly,
in essence,
firstly and foremost,
at bottom,
when all is said and done (informal),
before everything,
beyond everything,
elementally
in the sense of as a rule
Definition
usually
As a rule, these tourists take far too many souvenirs with them.
Synonyms
usually,
generally,
mainly,
normally,
on the whole,
for the most part,
ordinarily,
customarily
in the sense of chiefly
Definition
mainly or mostly
a committee composed of leaders of the rival factions
Synonyms
mainly,
largely,
usually,
mostly,
in general,
on the whole,
predominantly,
in the main
Synonyms of 'mostly'
mostly
Explore 'mostly' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of customarily
Marriages in medieval Europe were customarily arranged by the families.
Synonyms
usually,
generally,
commonly,
regularly,
normally,
traditionally,
ordinarily,
habitually,
in the ordinary way,
as a rule
in the sense of for the most part
Definition
generally
For the most part, they try to keep out of local disputes.
Synonyms
mainly,
largely,
generally,
chiefly,
mostly,
principally,
on the whole,
in the main
in the sense of largely
Definition
principally
I largely work with people who are already motivated.
Synonyms
mainly,
generally,
chiefly,
widely,
mostly,
principally,
primarily,
considerably,
predominantly,
extensively,
by and large,
as a rule,
to a large extent,
to a great extent
in the sense of on the whole
Definition
in general
On the whole, people are travelling for pleasure much more these days.
Synonyms
generally,
in general,
for the most part,
as a rule,
chiefly,
mainly,
mostly,
principally,
on average,
predominantly,
in the main,
to a large extent,
as a general rule,
generally speaking
in the sense of predominantly
The landscape has remained predominantly rural in appearance.
Synonyms
mainly,
largely,
chiefly,
mostly,
generally,
principally,
primarily,
on the whole,
in the main,
for the most part,
to a great extent,
preponderantly
in the sense of primarily
Definition
chiefly or mainly
Public order is primarily an urban problem.
Synonyms
chiefly,
largely,
generally,
mainly,
especially,
essentially,
mostly,
basically,
principally,
fundamentally,
above all,
on the whole,
for the most part
in the sense of principally
This is principally because the major export markets are slowing.
Synonyms
mainly,
largely,
chiefly,
especially,
particularly,
mostly,
primarily,
above all,
predominantly,
in the main,
for the most part,
first and foremost
in the sense of usually
The best information about hotels usually comes from friends.