CHIEFLY

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does chiefly mean? 

• CHIEFLY (adverb)
  The adverb CHIEFLY has 1 sense:

1. for the most part

  Familiarity information: CHIEFLY used as an adverb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CHIEFLY (adverb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

For the most part

Synonyms:

chiefly; in the main; mainly; primarily; principally

Context example:

he is mainly interested in butterflies

Pertainym:

chief (most important element)

 Context examples 

Her ill opinion of him was founded chiefly on observations, which, for her cousins' sake, she could scarcely dare mention to their father.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

I was invited by several persons, chiefly out of curiosity, because it was reported that I came from countries very remote, of which they had never heard.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

Dysentery resulting from ulcerative inflammation of the bowel, caused chiefly by infection with ENTAMOEBA HISTOLYTICA.

(Amebic Colitis, NLM, Medical Subject Headings)

A subtype of type A influenza virus found chiefly in birds, but infections with these viruses can occur in humans.

(Avian Influenza Virus, NCI Thesaurus)

Her mutterings were chiefly to her husband; and he murmured, in reply, Very true, my love, very true.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

It occurs chiefly in infants and children.

(Croup, NLM, Medical Subject Headings)

Miss Tilney, to whom this was chiefly addressed, was startled, and hastily replied, “Indeed! And of what nature?”

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

I chiefly wonder what he'll be, when he leaves Doctor Strong's, and what mankind will do to maintain any place against him.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Her disappointment was so evident that he was sorry he had failed, but chiefly so for her sake.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

But the man had the better of it at first, chiefly because he was a man.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)