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usually

/ˈjuːʒʊəli/
adverb

Usually means “most of the time”; the seven-letter word scores 10 points in Scrabble.

NWL Collins ENABLE

Adverb 2 meanings

  1. Most of the time; less than always, but more than occasionally.

    “Except for one or two days a year, he usually walks to work.”

  2. Under normal conditions.

Definitions: Wiktionary (CC BY-SA) via Kaikki/Wiktextract

Where it comes from

Etymology

From Middle English usualli, equivalent to usual + -ly. Broadly displaced native Old English ġewunelīċe (from which English wontly).

Similar and opposite words

Similar
generallycustomarilymainlycommonlyregularlymostlyordinarilywontedly
Opposite
foreveroccasionallyuniformly

Usually describes what happens in the normal case, without claiming it happens every time. That makes it a useful middle ground between “always” and “occasionally.” The word is familiar in everyday English, and its 10-point tile total comes mostly from a single higher-value letter rather than a rare-letter pileup.

Usually at a glance

  • USUALLY means “most of the time” or “under normal conditions.”
  • The seven tiles are U, S, U, A, L, L, and Y.
  • Its standard Scrabble face-value score is 10 points.
  • Really, actually, and generally appear among its 12 listed rhymes.

What does usually mean?

Usually means something happens in most cases, but not without exception. It can also describe what happens under normal conditions. For example: “I usually walk to work” says walking is the routine, while leaving room for days when the routine changes.

The word is common in English, with a frequency rank of 710 and 46,770 recorded occurrences. In conversation, it often softens a claim: “The train usually arrives on time” is more precise than promising that it always does.

Usually ends in the sound spelled “lly.” Its listed rhymes include really, actually, generally, fully, and eventually. Those give you several familiar options for a lyric or a rhyme puzzle, though their rhythm and syllable count differ.

How many Scrabble points is usually worth?

USUALLY is worth 10 points before any board bonuses: U, S, U, A, L, and L each score 1, while Y scores 4. That makes Y the key tile in the total, even though the word’s overall value stays modest.

Playing all seven tiles in one turn earns the standard 50-point Scrabble bingo bonus, so a play without premium-square bonuses would score 60 points altogether. The practical challenge is fitting seven letters on the board; look for an existing word that can take a useful extension.

There are no listed anagrams or one-letter neighbours for USUALLY. So its wordplay value is less about rearranging the rack and more about spotting a legal board fit. Check the word list used in your game before relying on any word’s acceptance.

Rhymes with usually

All rhymes

Questions people ask

What does usually mean?
Usually means “most of the time” or “under normal conditions.” It describes a common pattern, not an absolute rule. “I usually cook at home” means home cooking is the routine, though there may be exceptions.
How many points is usually worth in Scrabble?
Usually is worth 10 points from its letter tiles, before board bonuses. The six U, S, A, and L tiles are worth 1 point apiece, and Y is worth 4. Using all seven tiles also earns the standard 50-point bingo bonus.
Does usually have any anagrams?
No anagrams are listed for usually. Its letters are U, S, U, A, L, L, and Y, and the repeated U and L make a different arrangement a particular challenge. Try a word finder if you want to check a specific rack.

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