Definition of CHIEFLY
CHIEFLY Adverb
Chiefly is an adverb that means primarily, mainly, or predominantly. It is used to indicate the main or most important aspect of something, often highlighting the primary focus or purpose.
Primarily: Chiefly denotes the primary or main element of something. For example, “The conference focused chiefly on technological innovations.” This usage emphasizes the main area of interest or concentration.
Predominantly: To describe something as chiefly involves identifying it as the most significant or predominant factor. For instance, “The report was chiefly concerned with economic impacts.” This reflects the major emphasis or dominant aspect of a subject.
Main Focus: Chiefly indicates the central or most important focus of an activity or discussion. For example, “The documentary is chiefly about climate change.” This highlights the primary subject or core topic being addressed.
Essential Component: In some contexts, chiefly is used to point out an essential or core component of something. For instance, “The team’s efforts were chiefly directed towards improving customer service.” This usage underscores the principal objective or purpose of the actions taken.
Major Influence: Chiefly can describe the major influence or driving factor behind a situation or outcome. For example, “The success of the project was chiefly due to the dedicated team effort.” This reflects the primary reason or cause behind a particular result.
Predominant Characteristic: To use chiefly is to indicate the predominant characteristic or quality of something. For instance, “The book is chiefly noted for its insightful analysis.” This highlights the most notable feature or attribute.
Central Role: Chiefly can be used to describe something that plays a central or leading role in a scenario. For example, “The policy changes were chiefly intended to address environmental concerns.” This usage emphasizes the primary role or purpose of the changes.
Principal Aspect: In various contexts, chiefly points out the principal aspect or primary focus. For example, “The discussion was chiefly about the new regulations affecting the industry.” This highlights the main topic or principal aspect of the discussion.
In conclusion, chiefly is an adverb used to denote the primary, main, or predominant aspect of something. It emphasizes the central focus, major influence, or principal characteristic in various contexts, helping to clarify the most significant elements of a subject or situation. Understanding chiefly aids in identifying the most important or dominant factors in discussions and analyses.
Examples of CHIEFLY in a sentence
- The conference will focus chiefly on renewable energy and sustainable practices.
- The report is chiefly concerned with the financial implications of the new policy.
- Her interest in art is chiefly related to modern and contemporary pieces.
- The book is chiefly written for an academic audience, with complex theories and detailed analysis.
- The recipe uses chiefly locally sourced ingredients to promote regional produce.
- The organization’s efforts are chiefly aimed at improving educational opportunities for underprivileged children.
- The changes to the curriculum are chiefly intended to enhance students’ critical thinking skills.
- His comments were chiefly about the challenges faced during the project’s implementation.
Origin of CHIEFLY
Chiefly traces its origins back to the word chief, which comes from the Old French chef, meaning “leader” or “head,” derived from the Latin caput, meaning “head.” The word chiefly was formed by adding the suffix -ly to chief, meaning “in the manner of a chief” or “mainly.”
- Latin: Caput (head).
- Old French: Chef (leader, head).
- Old French: The Latin caput evolved into Old French as chef, referring to a leader or principal person.
- Middle English: The term chief entered Middle English, referring to something primary or principal.
- Early Modern English: Chiefly emerged, meaning “mainly” or “for the most part.”
In contemporary English, chiefly is used to describe something that is primarily or mostly the case. It retains the meaning of being the main or principal aspect of something. The term has evolved from its roots, emphasizing dominance or leadership, to highlight the primary or predominant element in a broader context. Chiefly is commonly used to mean “mostly” or “principally.”
Synonyms
- Primarily
- Mainly
- Predominantly
- Principally
- Essentially
- Mostly
- Fundamentally
- Predominantly
Antonyms
- Marginally
- Secondarily
- Minorly
- Incidentally
- Peripherally
- Subordinately
- Secondarily
- Incidentally
Related
- Focus
- Main
- Central
- Key
- Major
- Significant
- Leading
- Dominant
🌐 🇬🇧 CHIEFLY in other languages
| Spanish 🇪🇸 | Hablador |
| French 🇫🇷 | Principalement |
| German 🇩🇪 | Vor allem |
| Chinese (simpl) 🇨🇳 | 主要 |
| Chinese (trad) 🇨🇳 | 主要是 |
| Italian 🇮🇹 | Principalmente |
| Portuguese 🇵🇹 | Principalmente |
| Dutch 🇳🇱 | Chiefly |
| Swedish 🇸🇪 | Huvudsakligen |
| Norwegian 🇳🇴 | Først og fremst |
| Finnish 🇫🇮 | Pääasiassa |
| Romanian 🇷🇴 | în principal |
| Polish 🇵🇱 | Głównie |
| Hungarian 🇭🇺 | Főleg |
| Czech 🇨🇿 | Především |
| Bulgarian 🇧🇬 | Главно |
| Ukrainian 🇺🇦 | головним чином |
| Russian 🇷🇺 | Вождь |
| Turkish 🇹🇷 | Doğum |
| Azerbaijani 🇦🇿 | Əsasən |
| Armenian 🇦🇲 | Հիմնականում |
| Arabic 🇸🇦 | بشكل رئيسي |
| Hebrew 🇮🇱 | בעיקר |
| Urdu 🇵🇰 | بنیادی طور پر |
| Farsi/Persian 🇮🇷 | به طور عمده |
| Hindi 🇮🇳 | मुख्य रूप से |
| Bengaleli/se 🇧🇩 | প্রধানত |
| Marathi 🇮🇳 | मुख्यत्वे |
| Telugu 🇮🇳 | ప్రధానంగా |
| Tamil 🇮🇳 | முக்கியமாக |
| Gujarati 🇮🇳 | મુખ્યત્વે |
| Kannada 🇮🇳 | ಮುಖ್ಯವಾಗಿ |
| Odia (Orya) 🇮🇳 | ମୁଖ୍ୟତ। | |
| Malayalam 🇮🇳 | പ്രധാനമായും |
| Punjabi 🇮🇳 | ਮੁੱਖ ਤੌਰ ‘ਤੇ |
| Sinhala/ese 🇱🇰 | ප්රධාන වශයෙන් |
| Nepali 🇳🇵 | मुख्य रूपमा |
| Burmese 🇲🇲 | အဓိကအားဖြင့် |
| Thai 🇹🇭 | โดยเฉพาะ |
| Vietnamese 🇻🇳 | Chủ yếu |
| Malay 🇲🇾 | Terutamanya |
| Indonesian 🇮🇩 | Terutama |
| Tagalog 🇵🇭 | Pangunahin |
| Japanese 🇯🇵 | 主に |
| Korean 🇰🇷 | 주로 |
| Oromo 🇪🇹 | Irra caalaa |
| Somali 🇸🇴 | Ugu horrayn |
| Amharic 🇪🇹 | በዋናነት |
| Swahili 🇹🇿 | Mkuu |
| Yoruba 🇳🇬 | Olori |
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