predominantly

predominantly — adverb

1. so that one kind, group, or feature makes up clearly more of the whole than the

1.adverbC2
Definition

so that one kind, group, or feature makes up clearly more of the whole than the others do

Example

The crowd at the night market was predominantly local families with young children.

pattern: predominantly + noun group

This year's nursing class was predominantly female at Kaohsiung Medical University.

collocation: predominantly female

Common collocations
  • predominantly female
  • predominantly local
  • predominantly rural
  • focus predominantly on
  • grow predominantly in
Synonyms
  • mostly

    is the plain everyday choice and sounds less formal

  • mainly

    often emphasizes the chief topic, reason, or activity

  • largely

    can mean to a great extent, not only by simple counting

  • primarily

    often suggests first importance or main purpose rather than majority

Antonyms
  • equally

    shows that no single part is larger than the others

  • evenly

    stresses a balanced distribution across parts or groups

  • partly

    means only in some degree, not for the larger share

Grammar Patterns

predominantly + adjective

predominantly + noun group

predominantly in / on / among + phrase

Usage Note

Often placed before an adjective, a noun group, or a phrase with in, on, or among. More formal than mostly, and especially common in reports, academic writing, and descriptions of population, land, or data patterns.

Common Mistakes

Women predominantly in the choir.
Women predominate in the choir.' / 'The choir is predominantly female.
predominantly is an adverb, so it cannot act as the main verb by itself.
The report predominantly about traffic.
The report was predominantly about traffic.
this adverb usually needs a verb such as be, focus, or consist before it.

Word family

  • predominant
    adjectiveC1
  • predominate
    verbC2
  • predominance
    nounC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

For adverb/1, predominantly is a more formal way to say that one group, feature, or type forms the larger share. Mostly is the everyday choice and is easier in conversation. Mainly often points to the main topic, reason, or activity, so it fits verbs like discuss, focus, or use. Largely suggests that something is true to a great extent, but not always by simple counting. Primarily often means above all or in the first place, so it can sound more purposeful than predominantly. In news and academic writing, predominantly is common for populations, regions, land types, and patterns in data. Say the class is predominantly female, but the report mainly discusses housing.

mostly ↗mainly ↗largely ↗primarily ↗

Common collocations

Phrases

  • predominantly female
  • predominantly local
  • predominantly rural
  • focus predominantly on

Prepositions

  • predominantly in
  • predominantly on
  • predominantly among

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Predominantly was formed in English by adding the adverb ending -ly to predominant. Predominant came into English through French from Latin roots linked with ruling or being in control. The older idea was about greater power; in modern use, the word usually says that one type, group, or feature is the main part.