Chiefly: meaning, definitions and examples

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chiefly

[ ˈtʃiːfli ]

Adverb

^{Context #1 | Adverb}

formal

Mainly or mostly, typically used to indicate the primary focus or importance of something.

Synonyms

largely, mainly, mostly, primarily.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
chiefly	Used when focusing on the most important or primary aspect of something. The company's success is chiefly due to its innovative products
mostly	Used when something happens the majority of the time or for the most part, but not exclusively. She spends mostly all her weekends hiking in the mountains
mainly	Used to describe the primary, most frequent, or dominant aspect or activity. The team mainly focuses on software development
primarily	Used to indicate the main purpose, function, or focus of something. The workshop is primarily aimed at beginner programmers
largely	Used when something happens to a great extent or majority, indicating the overall sense without exclusion. The show's audience was largely composed of teenagers

Examples of usage

He is chiefly responsible for the success of the project.
The company is chiefly known for its innovative products.

^{Context #2 | Adverb}

literary

In the main; for the most part.

Synonyms

largely, mainly, mostly, primarily.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
chiefly	Used to emphasize the most important reason, aspect, or element of something. It often highlights the primary focus or main point of discussion. The conference was organized chiefly to discuss new technologies in renewable energy. She is chiefly known for her contributions to environmental science.
mostly	Indicates that something happens for the most part or generally true in the majority of cases, but not exclusively. The weather is mostly sunny during this time of year. He is mostly interested in ancient history.
mainly	Used when identifying the main reason, cause, or part of something. It is often used to indicate the primary focus but allows for other factors to be present. She invests mainly in tech companies. The report is mainly about the economic impact of the pandemic.
primarily	Used to point out the primary reason, purpose, or element of something. It focuses on the main point, often above all others. The course is designed primarily for beginners. She writes primarily about health and wellness topics.
largely	Applied when something happens or is true to a great extent, but not completely. It often describes a predominant factor or major portion. The success of the project was largely due to the team's dedication. His arguments are largely valid but need more supporting data.

Examples of usage

The garden was chiefly roses, with a few other flowers scattered in between.

Translations

Translations of the word "chiefly" in other languages:

🇵🇹 principalmente

🇮🇳 मुख्य रूप से

🇩🇪 hauptsächlich

🇮🇩 terutama

🇺🇦 переважно

🇵🇱 głównie

🇯🇵 主に

🇫🇷 principalement

🇪🇸 principalmente

🇹🇷 başlıca

🇰🇷 주로

🇸🇦 أساسا

🇨🇿 hlavně

🇸🇰 hlavne

🇨🇳 主要地

🇸🇮 predvsem

🇮🇸 aðallega

🇰🇿 негізінен

🇬🇪 ძირითადად

🇦🇿 əsasən

🇲🇽 principalmente

Etymology

The word 'chiefly' originated from the Middle English word 'chiefliche', which means 'chiefly' or 'mostly'. It has been used in the English language since the 14th century. Over time, it has evolved to become a commonly used adverb to indicate the primary focus or importance of something.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #2,740, this word belongs to solid intermediate vocabulary. It's frequently used in both casual and formal contexts and is worth learning for better fluency.

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2737 domain
2738 varieties
2739 retained
2740 chiefly
2741 circulation
2742 render
2743 hath
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