largely — English Dictionary

Adverb

1. In a widespread or large manner.

   Examples

   She smiled at Aristide, who smiled at her, and Jean, seeing them happy, smiled largely at them both.

2. For the most part; mainly or chiefly.

   Examples

   They were largely successful in their efforts.

   More examples (2)

   Herbarium material does not, indeed, allow one to extrapolate safely: what you see is what you get; what you get is classical alpha-taxonomy which is, very largely and for sound reasons, in disrepute today.

   Yet in “Through a Latte, Darkly”, a new study of how Starbucks has largely avoided paying tax in Britain, Edward Kleinbard […] shows that current tax rules make it easy for all sorts of firms to generate what he calls “stateless income”: […]. In Starbucks’s case, the firm has in effect turned the process of making an expensive cup of coffee into intellectual property.

   But with the war also still largely stalemated, other theatres of conflict have become more important. In Russia’s case, that includes the secret domain.

3. On a large scale; amply.

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   Usually there was a jug of one or other decoction standing on the hob, from which he drank largely. "Grand!" he said, smacking his lips after wormwood. "Grand!" And he exhorted the children to try.

4. Fully, at great length.

   Usage

   • Obsolete

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   It ill beseemes a knight of gentle sort, / Such as ye haue him boasted, to beguile / A simple mayd, and worke so haynous tort, / In shame of knighthood, as I largely can report.

Adverb

1. in large part; mainly or chiefly

   Synonyms

   mostlyfor the most part

   Examples

   These accounts are largely inactive

2. on a large scale

   Examples

   the sketch was so largely drawn that you could see it from the back row