primarily

adverb

pri·​mar·​i·​ly prī-ˈmer-ə-lē How to pronounce primarily (audio)
 also  prə-,
 chiefly British  ˈprī-mə-rə-lē
1
: for the most part : chiefly
has now become primarily a residential townS. P. B. Mais
2
: in the first place : originally

Examples of primarily in a Sentence

the university was primarily an agricultural college when it was founded over two centuries ago ketchup is primarily made from tomatoes
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.
According to a policy memo leaked to Politico last week, House Budget Committee members are considering a number of reforms to federal student loan forgiveness and repayment programs as part of a massive budget reconciliation bill primarily intended to extend expiring tax cuts. Adam S. Minsky, Forbes, 24 Jan. 2025 Well, primarily because Gyokeres, similar to Harry Kane, has needed to work hard to improve his game along a career path that has taken him from Brommapojkarna in Sweden to Sporting in Portugal, via stints at Brighton & Hove Albion, Swansea City and Coventry City. The Athletic Uk Staff, The Athletic, 24 Jan. 2025 The terms of the deal require that settlement funds be used primarily for opioid crisis remediation efforts. Quartz Intelligence Newsroom, Quartz, 24 Jan. 2025 More than ten thousand refugees who’d been cleared to fly to the U.S for resettlement, including sixteen hundred Afghans who were fleeing their country, primarily because of past ties to U.S. forces, were left in limbo. Jonathan Blitzer, The New Yorker, 24 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for primarily 

Word History

First Known Use

1601, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of primarily was in 1601

Dictionary Entries Near primarily

Cite this Entry

“Primarily.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/primarily. Accessed 29 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

primarily

adverb
pri·​mar·​i·​ly prī-ˈmer-ə-lē How to pronounce primarily (audio)
1
: for the most part : chiefly
2
: in the first place : originally

More from Merriam-Webster on primarily

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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