ordinarily

adverb

Synonyms of ordinarilynext
: in an ordinary manner or to an ordinary extent: such as
a
: in the ordinary course of events : usually
She was ordinarily very busy in the morning.
the jobs ordinarily handled by junior staff members
… cortisol, a hormone which ordinarily comes into play in situations of bodily stress …Maggie Scarf
Ordinarily, the immune system of any mammal will work to fight off a fungal parasite.David Quammen
b
: to the usual extent : moderately
It must suffice for him to be ordinarily honest according to the ordinary honesty of the world's ways …Anthony Trollope
c
: in a commonplace or inferior way : without distinction
A friend of mine … has two apartments on the 3rd floor, very ordinarily furnished …Walt Whitman

Examples of ordinarily in a Sentence

ordinarily, I get off work at five, but this week I'm working late to meet a project deadline
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
His foray into the midterm elections is the latest windfall for congressional Republicans, who hope to overcome the political headwinds that ordinarily face the party in power with their substantial fundraising advantage. David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 3 Sep. 2026 When two outfielders can make the same catch, the left or right fielder ordinarily yields to the center fielder. Tushaar Kuthiala, Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 Sep. 2026 Data that would ordinarily be considered benign—research findings, statistics, assessments, technical evaluations—are now treated as potential security liabilities. Andrei Soldatov, Foreign Affairs, 31 Aug. 2026 Scans ultimately revealed a patent foramen ovale, or PFO — a small opening between the heart’s upper chambers that ordinarily closes shortly after birth. Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 23 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ordinarily

Word History

First Known Use

1555, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ordinarily was in 1555

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ordinarily.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ordinarily. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

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