primal

adjective

pri·​mal ˈprī-məl How to pronounce primal (audio)
1
: original, primitive
village life continued in its primal innocenceVan Wyck Brooks
2
: first in importance : primary

Examples of primal in a Sentence

the primal theme of the essay is toleration of religious diversity there was a period of primal idealism after the founding of the republic and before the rise of partisan politics
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Grinderman formed in 2005 as a more raw and primal outlet for Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds—a sound more akin to Cave’s early post-punk project the Birthday Party. Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 21 May 2025 This great, deep, profound, primal passion for performing and for sharing that experience with the artists on stage, the cast and the band, and sharing that with the audience, is one of my favorite things in in my whole life. Lexi Carson, HollywoodReporter, 17 May 2025 Rayburn partners up with local sheriff Alice Gustafson (Annabelle Wallis) in a somber yet tumultuous pursuit of a killer who uses brutal traps and primal tactics. Travis Bean, Forbes.com, 17 May 2025 His online content often featured graphic and intense visuals—such as eating raw liver, dragging weights using his teeth or engaging in ice baths—designed to represent resilience and primal strength. Dan Cody, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for primal

Word History

Etymology

probably from prime entry 1 + -al entry 1

First Known Use

1604, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of primal was in 1604

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Primal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/primal. Accessed 1 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

primal

adjective
pri·​mal ˈprī-məl How to pronounce primal (audio)
1
: of or relating to the first period or state : primitive
2
: first in importance : basic
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!