originally
/əˈɹɪd͡ʒ.ɪ.nə.li/
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Sense 1
Meaning · English
As it was in the beginning; at first.
Adverb
Examples
Originally, this paper was white, but over the years it has yellowed with age.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
In an original manner.
Adverb
Examples
They had to think originally to come up with those creative ideas.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “originally” mean?
As it was in the beginning; at first.
Is “originally” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.