# mostly

/ˈmoʊsɫi/ (US) · /mˈəʊstli/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/mostly
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. mainly or usually

adverb · CEFR A2

for the most part, or in most cases.

For teachers: chiefly or principally; used to indicate that a situation or quality applies to the majority of a group or time.

- The people at the party were mostly students from the local college.
- The local economy relies mostly on seasonal tourism, which leaves many businesses struggling during the colder winter months.

Usage: Typically placed before the adjective, adverb, or phrase it modifies, or after the verb 'to be'.

## Examples

- The crowd at the concert is mostly teenagers.
- The weather this week will be mostly sunny, though we might see a few clouds on Thursday afternoon.
- While the report addresses several minor administrative errors, it is mostly concerned with the systemic failure of the communication protocols during the emergency response.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.