[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/mainly/)

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# mainly

adverb

«mainly» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

Mainly means mostly, more than anything else, or in most cases. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mainly/#m1)

### In the lessons

In school writing and science it is used to describe the biggest part of something («Air is mainly nitrogen»; «The diet is mainly plants»). In maths and data handling it describes what most of the data shows. Similar words: «mostly», «largely», «chiefly». Phrases: «mainly because», «mainly made of».

### Examples

- The class is mainly girls this year. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mainly/#x1)
- Koalas eat mainly eucalyptus leaves. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mainly/#x2)
- The air we breathe is mainly nitrogen. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mainly/#x3)
- I walk to school, mainly because it is close. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mainly/#x4)
- Our garden is mainly grass. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mainly/#x5)
- The weather will be mainly dry with some showers. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mainly/#x6)
- The book is mainly about friendship. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mainly/#x7)
- The bar chart shows that pupils travel mainly by car. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mainly/#x8)
- The stories have mainly been adapted or translated by Mrs. Lang, a few by Miss Lang and Miss Blackley. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mainly/#x9)

### Note

Adverb, so it goes before the main verb or before the word it describes. «Mainly» does not mean «only»: in maths, if a class is mainly girls, more than half are girls, but some are boys. Do not confuse with «Maine» (a US state).

## In Jewish tradition

In school writing and science it is used to describe the biggest part of something («Air is mainly nitrogen»; «The diet is mainly plants»). In maths and data handling it describes what most of the data shows. Similar words: «mostly», «largely», «chiefly». Phrases: «mainly because», «mainly made of».

### Examples

- The "Sepher Yetzirah," on the other hand is mainly concerned with our universe and with the Microcosm. (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/M/mainly/#x1)
- The '' Sepher Yetzirah," on the other hand is mainly concerned with our universe and with the Microcosm. (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/M/mainly/#x2)

### Note

Adverb, so it goes before the main verb or before the word it describes. «Mainly» does not mean «only»: in maths, if a class is mainly girls, more than half are girls, but some are boys. Do not confuse with «Maine» (a US state).

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «mainly» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mainly/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«mainly» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/mainly.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «mainly» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/M/mainly/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«mainly» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/mainly.html) on Mova free.