ordinarily
adverb
or·di·nar·i·ly
ˌȯr-də-ˈner-ə-lē 
: 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
Maggie ScarfOrdinarily, the immune system of any mammal will work to fight off a fungal parasite.—David Quammen
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
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
Walt WhitmanExamples 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
That would ordinarily be a great sign for Conservatives’ chances of winning the most seats nationally.
—The Editors, National Review, 29 Apr. 2025
The clause expresses disputes between a player and his agent regarding their contractual relationship are ordinarily governed by an NBPA arbitration procedure.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 24 Apr. 2025
Seasonal allergies happen when your body's immune system overreacts to ordinarily harmless things in the environment, like pollen.
—Sarah Hudgens, Health, 23 Apr. 2025
Although there are different types, these medications generally block immune system signals that would ordinarily activate an attack, slow down or reduce the number of immune cells, and prevent inflammation that could damage the graft.
—New Atlas, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ordinarily
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.
The Editors, National Review, 29 Apr. 2025
The clause expresses disputes between a player and his agent regarding their contractual relationship are ordinarily governed by an NBPA arbitration procedure.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 24 Apr. 2025
Seasonal allergies happen when your body's immune system overreacts to ordinarily harmless things in the environment, like pollen.
—Sarah Hudgens, Health, 23 Apr. 2025
Although there are different types, these medications generally block immune system signals that would ordinarily activate an attack, slow down or reduce the number of immune cells, and prevent inflammation that could damage the graft.
—New Atlas, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ordinarily
Cite this Entry
“Ordinarily.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ordinarily. Accessed 17 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share