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By and large means “in general” or "on the whole" in most contexts, but in sailors’ lingo of yore, whence the phrase arose, by and large described a vessel alternately sailing as directly into the wind as possible (typically within about 45 degrees of the wind)—that is, by—and away from the direction from which the wind is blowing, with the wind hitting the vessel’s widest point—that is, large. (Note that this by also appears in the term full and by: "sailing as directly into the wind as possible and with all sails full.") William Bourne’s 1578 book Inventions or Devises offers insight into the phrase’s original use: “… to make a ship to draw or go but little into the water, and to hold a good wind, and to sail well both by and large, were very necessary …” As has happened with much nautical jargon, the phrase eventually came ashore. By and large, landlubbers welcomed it, first in the sense "in many directions" or "in all ways," and ultimately with its present meaning of "in general."
Examples of by and large in a Sentence
Samuel Axon, ArsTechnica, 27 Mar. 2025
The problem was that the squirrels were, by and large, well-fed.
—Ben Naddaff-Hafrey, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Mar. 2025
And even five years ago, when the world plunged into lockdown, sneaker were, by and large, on the chunkier side (Nike’s Dunks and Jordans were particularly popular, fuelled by covetable new releases).
—Alice Cary, Vogue, 25 Mar. 2025
There's a little sprinkled throughout, but these all-stars are by and large gracious and amiable.
—Randall Colburn, EW.com, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for by and large
Cite this Entry
“By and large.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/by%20and%20large. Accessed 1 Apr. 2025.
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