by and large
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by and large
Where it comes from
From sailing: a ship may (or may not) sail well both close by the wind, and large, downwind, with sheets extended.
adverb
-
Mostly; generally; all things considered.
It was, by and large, an unexceptional presentation.
Similar: for the most part, generally, mostly, on the whole, usually, all in all, all things considered, altogether, broadly, as a rule, basically, by and large
- In one way or another. Miss Betsey, a charming frigate, that will do honour to our country, if you take her by and large.
- Sailing alternately into the wind and in the same direction as the wind. […] For to make a Ship to drawe or goe but little into the water, and to hold a good winde, and to ſaile well both by and large, were very neceſſarie, and eſpecially in theſe our ſhallowe Seas, […]
Translations
Every language
adv mostly, generally; with few exceptions
| Español | en gran parte, en buena parte |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 대부분 daebubun |
| 日本語 | 全般的にみて zenpanteki ni mite |
| 中文 | 總的來說 /总的来说 zǒngdeláishuō, 大體上 /大体上 dàtǐshang, 大體而言 /大体而言 dàtǐ éryán, 全盤看來 /全盘看来 quánpán kànlái, 一般 yībān, 大致上 dàzhìshang |
| Português | em geral, no geral |
| Français | en majeure partie, en gros, pratiquement |
| Deutsch | im Großen und Ganzen |
| Italiano | in generale, in linea di massima |
| Русский | в о́бщем и це́лом v óbščem i célom, в о́бщем v óbščem, по бо́льшей ча́сти po bólʹšej části |
| العربية | عَلَى اَلْعَمُوم ʕalā l-ʕamūm |
| עברית | בכלל bikhlal |
Talk about this word "by and large." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/by%20and%20large. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. by and large. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/by%20and%20large "by and large." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/by%20and%20large.Cite this
@misc{by_and_large_2026,
title = {by and large},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/by%20and%20large},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
