The meaning of COMMONLY is as a general thing : often in the usual course of events : usually, ordinarily.

COMMONLY definition: often; frequently. See examples of commonly used in a sentence.

(Definition of commonly from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

1. usually; ordinarily: he was commonly known as Joe. 2. derogatory in a coarse or vulgar way: she dresses commonly.

There are eight meanings listed in OED's entry for the adverb commonly, three of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

Definition of commonly adverb in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

Jan 16, 2026 · Common refers to something that happens often or is widely seen, while ordinary emphasizes that something is plain or not special. It is common to see people walking their dogs in …

The adverb commonly is good for talking about something that usually or ordinarily happens. Mice, for example, are commonly afraid of cats.

Find 950 synonyms for commonly and other similar words that you can use instead based on 13 separate contexts from our thesaurus.

Find 27 different ways to say COMMONLY, along with antonyms, related words, and example sentences at Thesaurus.com.