locally

locally — adverb

1. within a specific nearby area, such as a town, neighbourhood, or region — rather

1.adverbB1
Definition

within a specific nearby area, such as a town, neighbourhood, or region — rather than across a whole country or on a global scale

Example

Eshe buys her vegetables locally from the market on Elm Street.

Locally, residents have raised enough money to repair the old library.

adverb in front position for scene-setting

Common collocations
  • bought locally
  • grown locally
  • sourced locally
  • organised locally
  • produced locally
  • elected locally
Synonyms
  • nearby

    focuses on physical closeness rather than political or administrative boundaries

  • regionally

    broader in scope; may cover an entire county, province, or multi-town area

  • domestically

    contrasts with foreign or international contexts, often used for production and supply chains

Antonyms
  • globally

    worldwide scope, the opposite of being limited to a small area

  • nationally

    country-wide, contrasting with a single town or neighbourhood

Grammar Patterns

verb + locally

locally + past participle

locally, [clause]

Usage Note

Often contrasts with nationally or globally to emphasise a limited geographic scope.

Common Mistakes

She works locally in a big company downtown.
She works at a big company downtown.
'locally' is redundant here because 'downtown' already indicates a specific place.

2. restricted to a single body part, without spreading to other areas or affecting

2.adverbB2
Definition

restricted to a single body part, without spreading to other areas or affecting the whole body

Example

The doctor applied the cream locally to the rash on Lien's arm.

collocation: apply + locally

This anaesthetic works locally and will only numb the area around the wound.

Common collocations
  • applied locally
  • treated locally
  • managed locally
  • administered locally
  • acting locally
Synonyms
  • topically

    specifically used for medications applied onto the skin or surface of the body

  • focally

    used in medical imaging and neurology to describe an effect concentrated in one spot

Antonyms
  • systemically

    affecting the entire body through the circulatory system

Grammar Patterns

verb + locally

applied locally

treated locally

Usage Note

Common in medical descriptions and prescriptions. The opposite meaning is expressed by systemically (affecting the entire body through the bloodstream).

Common Mistakes

The medicine works locally on my whole body.
The medicine works systemically on my whole body.
'locally' means limited to one part; use 'systemically' when describing an effect on the whole body.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

Locally, nearby, regionally, and domestically all describe a limited geographic scope, but they differ in range and typical usage. Nearby focuses on physical closeness — things you can reach within a short walk or drive. Regionally covers a broader area, such as several towns or a whole county, and often appears in business or government contexts. Domestically contrasts with international: it means within the borders of one country, used for trade, production, or politics. Locally sits at the smallest end of this scale — a single neighbourhood, town, or community. For example, a restaurant might source ingredients locally (from nearby farms), a company might hire regionally (from several towns), and a brand might be sold both domestically (within the country) and internationally.

locally ↗nearby ↗regionallydomestically

Common collocations

Phrases

  • locally grown
  • locally sourced
  • locally produced
  • locally elected
  • locally managed
  • applied locally
  • treated locally
  • managed locally

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Locally was formed in English by adding the adverb-forming suffix -ly to the adjective local. Local comes from Latin localis, meaning 'relating to a place,' which in turn derives from locus ('a place'). The word has been used in English since the 1400s, first as an adjective and later as an adverb.