# normally

/ˈnɔɹməɫi/ (US) · /nˈɔːməli/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. usually

adverb · CEFR A2

most of the time or in most situations.

For teachers: under ordinary conditions or circumstances; used as a frequency adverb to indicate what is typical.

- Normally, I walk to work, but today I took the bus because it was raining.
- Normally, the committee meets on the first Tuesday of every month, but the upcoming public holiday has forced a rescheduling of the session.

Usage: Often placed at the beginning of a sentence or before the main verb.

### 2. in the expected way

adverb · CEFR B1

in the way that is regular, natural, or expected.

For teachers: in a manner that conforms to a standard, pattern, or expected custom.

- After the power cut, the machines started working normally again.
- The patient is breathing normally now, suggesting that the medication has successfully reduced the inflammation in the respiratory tract.

### 3. statistics

adverb · CEFR C1 · Technical

in a way that follows a specific mathematical pattern called a 'normal distribution'.

For teachers: distributed according to a Gaussian or normal distribution curve.

- The test scores were normally distributed across the whole student population.
- In many natural phenomena, such as height or blood pressure, the data points are found to be normally distributed around the mean.

Usage: Almost exclusively used with the verb 'distributed'.

## Examples

- I normally walk to work, but today I took the bus.
- The office is normally quiet on Friday afternoons because many employees work from home.
- While the data is normally distributed across the population, the recent survey suggests a significant shift in consumer preferences toward sustainable packaging.

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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.