Largely vs Mostly

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Largely

Top 2,000 (common) B2 adverb

Mostly

Top 1,000 (very common) A2 adverb

Most common: Mostly

	Largely	Mostly
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 /["/ˈlɑːdʒli/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˈlɑːrdʒli/"]/	🇬🇧 /["/ˈməʊstli/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˈməʊstli/"]/
Meaning	Mostly or for the most part.	mainly or for the most part
Example	The manager was **largely responsible for** the team’s victory.	The sauce is mostly cream.
Register	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 2,000 (common)	Top 1,000 (very common)
CEFR level	B2	A2
Part of speech	adverb	adverb
Collocations	largely due to, largely based on, largely influenced by	mostly true, mostly harmless, mostly used, mostly ignored, mostly finished
Antonyms	minimally, partially, marginally	rarely, seldom, never
Common mistakes	Misuse with count nouns; 'largely' is not a quantifier., Confuse it with 'larger', which relates to size., Use it in uncertain contexts where 'mainly' or 'primarily' would be better.	Using 'mostly' instead of 'most' when comparing amounts., Confusing 'mostly' with 'mostly not' to communicate disagreement., Using 'mostly' in place of 'generally' or 'usually' without appropriate context.
Usage notes	Use 'largely' in statements that refer to the majority of something. It is commonly used in academic or formal contexts but can be used informally as well. Avoid using it in very casual conversation.	Used to describe something that is true for the majority or the largest part. Suitable in both spoken and written contexts, but avoid using in highly technical or specialized discussions.

See it in real clips

But... mostly we had dust.

Chernobyl › S1 E1

There was a fire. It's mostly put out.

The Wire › S1 E1

The Terrace mostly.

But... mostly we had dust.

Chernobyl › S1 E1

There was a fire. It's mostly put out.

Mostly

Frequently asked questions: Largely vs Mostly

What's the difference between Largely and Mostly?

Largely: Mostly or for the most part. Mostly: mainly or for the most part

Which is more common: Largely and Mostly?

Mostly is the most common in everyday English.

Which is more advanced: Largely and Mostly?

Largely is the highest level, at B2, on the CEFR scale.

Are Largely and Mostly the same CEFR level?

Largely: B2, Mostly: A2 on the CEFR scale.

What part of speech are Largely and Mostly?

Largely: adverb, Mostly: adverb.

Can you show an example of each?

Largely: The manager was **largely responsible for** the team’s victory. Mostly: The sauce is mostly cream.

Can I use Largely and Mostly interchangeably?

Not always. Largely and Mostly are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.