mainly
gb/mˈeɪnli/ us/mˈeɪnli/
A2
English
~ 1400
főleg, elsősorban
A2
1
főleg
A2
elsősorban
B1
Usage pattern:
mainly [verb/phrase]
The meeting was mainly about budget cuts.
A megbeszélés főleg a költségvetési megszorításokról szólt.
She reads mainly romance novels.
Főleg romantikus regényeket olvas.
We chose this location mainly for its convenience.
The delay was mainly due to bad weather.
He is mainly interested in environmental issues.
Learner examples
I eat fruit mainly in the morning.
Főleg reggel eszem gyümölcsöt.
This book is mainly for children.
Ez a könyv elsősorban gyerekeknek szól.
We go there mainly to see friends.
It is mainly cold in winter here.
She talks mainly about her job.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'mainly' with 'main', using 'main' incorrectly as an adverb (e.g., 'I main eat rice' instead of 'I mainly eat rice').
Meaning
chiefly; for the most part
Collocations
mainly because
|mainly due to
|mainly concerned with
|mainly focused on
|mainly used for
Synonyms
mostly (Very close in meaning; slightly more informal in tone.)
|
primarily (Slightly more formal and often used in academic or professional contexts.)
Antonyms
rarely (Opposite in meaning as it refers to something happening infrequently rather than most of the time.)
|
partly (Indicates only a small part, not the majority.)
Themes
daily life
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Mostly; more than half; in the largest part.
Primarily; for the most part; more than anything else.
Grammar
Dictionary form
mainly
IPA
GB/mˈeɪnli/
US/mˈeɪnli/
Syllables & stress
mainly (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (mainly)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: mainly
- Plural: mainlies
Word family
Forms
mainlies
noun
Core family
main
adjective A2
Related words
mainland
noun B1
mainstream
adjective B2
Expressions
mainly because
1/mˈeɪnli bɪkˈʌz/
fixed phrase
mostly due to something
Used to say that something happens for the biggest reason.
Examples
- We stayed indoors mainly because it was raining.
- I chose this job mainly because of the flexible hours.
mainly due to
1/mˈeɪnli dˈu tə/
fixed phrase
mostly caused by something
Used to explain the biggest cause of something.
Examples
- The cancellation was mainly due to lack of interest.
- His success is mainly due to hard work.