by and large

adverb

: on the whole : in general

Did you know?

By and large is originally a sailing term meaning "alternately close-hauled and not close-hauled." A ship that is sailing "close-hauled" is sailing as directly into the wind as possible (typically within about 45 degrees of the wind). The by part of the phrase means "close-hauled." (This by also appears in the term full and by, meaning "sailing with all sails full and as close to the wind as possible.") Large, by contrast, refers to a point of sail in which the wind is hitting the boat "abaft the beam," or behind the boat's widest point. A 1669 example of a variant spelling of by and large gives us a sense of the range implied: "Thus you see the ship handled in fair weather and foul, by and learge" (S. Sturmy, Mariners Magazine). The suggestion of a wide range carries over into the term's "in general" sense.

Example Sentences

by and large, that information is accurate

Recent Examples on the Web There are a few shots that are obvious special effects, but by and large the drowned city and the distressed hospital seem real rather than staged.

Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2022 So is there a way to do guardrails, but by and large.

Laura Johnston, cleveland, 21 July 2022 The guards were low-class people, but the Terezín prisoners, by and large, were educated and knowledgeable.

Washington Post, 15 Apr. 2022 The upshot: the Brits, by and large, aren't buying Bailey's call for pay restraint.

Bernhard Warner, Fortune, 18 Feb. 2022 The protest — a movement that has now spread across the world, from Germany and France to Israel and Australia — is not even anti-vax, by and large.

Nate Hochman, National Review, 15 Feb. 2022 Tastes have grown drier in the 127 years since it was invented, and the general public, by and large, doesn’t drink dessert cocktails anymore.

Jason O'bryan, Robb Report, 20 Jan. 2022 Sales execs have become accustomed to pitching their films online — the first all-virtual film market was back in Cannes in 2020 — and business, by and large, has been good.

Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Jan. 2022 But by and large, the day belonged to the Patriots’ defense.

Tim Bielik, cleveland, 16 Aug. 2022 See More

单词	by and large
释义	by and large adverb : on the whole : in general Did you know? By and large is originally a sailing term meaning "alternately close-hauled and not close-hauled." A ship that is sailing "close-hauled" is sailing as directly into the wind as possible (typically within about 45 degrees of the wind). The by part of the phrase means "close-hauled." (This by also appears in the term full and by, meaning "sailing with all sails full and as close to the wind as possible.") Large, by contrast, refers to a point of sail in which the wind is hitting the boat "abaft the beam," or behind the boat's widest point. A 1669 example of a variant spelling of by and large gives us a sense of the range implied: "Thus you see the ship handled in fair weather and foul, by and learge" (S. Sturmy, Mariners Magazine). The suggestion of a wide range carries over into the term's "in general" sense. Synonyms altogether basically chiefly generally largely mainly mostly overall predominantly primarily principally substantially See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences by and large, that information is accurate Recent Examples on the Web There are a few shots that are obvious special effects, but by and large the drowned city and the distressed hospital seem real rather than staged. Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2022 So is there a way to do guardrails, but by and large. Laura Johnston, cleveland, 21 July 2022 The guards were low-class people, but the Terezín prisoners, by and large, were educated and knowledgeable. Washington Post, 15 Apr. 2022 The upshot: the Brits, by and large, aren't buying Bailey's call for pay restraint. Bernhard Warner, Fortune, 18 Feb. 2022 The protest — a movement that has now spread across the world, from Germany and France to Israel and Australia — is not even anti-vax, by and large. Nate Hochman, National Review, 15 Feb. 2022 Tastes have grown drier in the 127 years since it was invented, and the general public, by and large, doesn’t drink dessert cocktails anymore. Jason O'bryan, Robb Report, 20 Jan. 2022 Sales execs have become accustomed to pitching their films online — the first all-virtual film market was back in Cannes in 2020 — and business, by and large, has been good. Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Jan. 2022 But by and large, the day belonged to the Patriots’ defense. Tim Bielik, cleveland, 16 Aug. 2022 See More Word History First Known Use 1707, in the meaning defined above by and large adverb as in mostly for the most part by and large, that information is accurate Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance mostly mainly primarily chiefly largely predominantly basically principally in general generally substantially next to overall typically normally usually on the whole most commonly partly some altogether partially more or less practically virtually nearly broadly approximately frequently somewhat roughly near plus or minus nigh ordinarily rather much about well-nigh incompletely Antonyms & Near Antonyms wholly perfectly fully completely entirely thoroughly totally just hardly scarcely barely absolutely minimally marginally unqualifiedly categorically See More
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by and large

adverb

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

adverb