ordinarily

Everyday

1. Usually; in the normal way: Ordinarily, I walk to school. tree →
2. In an ordinary, not special, way (less common). tree →

In the lessons

In everyday talk and stories it tells you what normally happens, often before something unusual: «Ordinarily the bus is on time, but today…». In formal exam voice it means «as a rule».

Examples

• Ordinarily, the shop opens at nine. tree →
• I ordinarily walk to school, but today Dad drove me. tree →
• Ordinarily she is very quiet. tree →
• The river is ordinarily calm in summer. tree →
• Ordinarily, a cat sleeps most of the day. tree →
• It was an ordinarily dressed man who won the prize. tree →

Note

Spelled with -ily (ordinary → ordinarily). Same as «usually», «normally», but a bit more formal. US stress: or-di-NAIR-i-ly; UK: OR-din-ri-ly.