generally
- 01 B1 Intermediate
in most cases or as a general rule.
used to indicate that something is true in most situations or for most people.
Simple“I generally wake up at seven, but I sleep late on the weekends.”
In context“While there are exceptions for emergency vehicles, the speed limit is generally respected by the local community.”
UsageOften placed before the main verb or after the verb 'to be'.
Antonyms - 02 B1 Intermediate
by most people or in many places.
widely or popularly; used to describe a consensus or common knowledge.
Simple“It is generally accepted that smoking is bad for your health.”
In context“The new policy was generally welcomed by the staff, although a few senior managers expressed concerns about the timeline.”
UsageFrequently used in passive constructions like 'it is generally believed'.
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
considering the whole situation rather than small parts.
in a general sense; without reference to specific details or individual cases.
Simple“Generally speaking, the project was a success despite a few small problems.”
In context“The report describes the economic situation generally, leaving the specific data for the technical appendix.”
UsageOften appears in the fixed phrase 'generally speaking' at the start of a sentence.
SynonymsAntonyms
Usage generally considered · generally assumed · generally accept
From Middle English generally, generalliche, equivalent to general + -ly.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.