Langimage
English

generally

|gen/er/al/ly|

B1

/ˈdʒɛnərəli/

(general)

widespread or common

Base FormPluralNounNounAdjectiveAdverb
generalgeneralsgeneralsgeneralshipgeneralizedgenerally
Etymology
Etymology Information

'generally' originates from the Latin word 'generalis,' where 'genus' meant 'kind' or 'type.'

Historical Evolution

'generalis' transformed into the Old French word 'general,' and eventually became the modern English word 'general' with the adverbial form 'generally.'

Meaning Changes

Initially, it meant 'pertaining to a whole class or group,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'in most cases.'

Meanings by Part of Speech

Adverb 1

in most cases; usually.

Generally, people prefer summer to winter.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Adverb 2

in a general manner, without detail.

The book generally covers the history of the region.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:40