normally

adverb

USNOR-muh-lee/ˈnɔɹ.mə.li/UKNAW-muh-lee/ˈnɔːmə.li/

3 meanings of normally

1
most of the timeadverb
In ordinary circumstances; as a rule, or most of the time.
The train normally arrives a few minutes before nine.
Normally we'd take the highway, but it's closed for repairs.
UsageUsually before the main verb (normally arrives) or at the start of a sentence (Normally we...). At the end it usually means "in the usual way."
Similarusually, ordinarily, generally, typically
Oppositerarely, seldom
2
without problemsadverb
In the usual or expected way, or to the usual degree, with nothing unusual or wrong.
Once the update finished, the software functioned normally.
Despite the cold, the engine started normally this morning.
3
bell curveadverb
In the manner of a variable that follows a Gaussian distribution.
The analysis assumes that measurement errors are normally distributed around zero.
Heights in a large population tend to be normally distributed.
UsageAlmost always in normally distributed.
Note
A normally distributed variable has values that follow the bell-shaped Gaussian curve, clustered around the mean and thinning out evenly on both sides. Technical writing often uses the phrase to state an assumption a method depends on. Keep it apart from the everyday "usually" meaning: the errors are normally small says how often, while the errors are normally distributed says what pattern they make.

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Formed from "normal" combined with the adverb-forming suffix "-ly".

Checked 6 Nov 2026 · 2 facts