as in primary
coming before all others in importance
this is the main point of the study—everything else is secondary
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in power
muscular strength
all their might and main could not budge the stalled car
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in continent
one of the great divisions of land on the globe or the main part of such a division
islanders periodically traveled back to the main for supplies
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in core
the main or greater part of something as distinguished from its subordinate parts
the main of the tree is still healthy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of main
Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 25 Apr. 2025
The Bills will very likely want to find someone who can offer more versatility somewhere else while being their main returner, and running back might be the best place to find one.
—Joe Buscaglia, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2025
Lewis Nunn, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2025
For mains, opt for the branzino, cooked perfectly with crispy skin, and the long and plump macaroni are covered in a delicious tomato sauce are irresistible.
—Rana Good, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for main
Adjective
These kinds of breaches often happen quietly, exposing large amounts of customer information without touching a company’s main systems.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 25 Apr. 2025
The Bills will very likely want to find someone who can offer more versatility somewhere else while being their main returner, and running back might be the best place to find one.
—Joe Buscaglia, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2025
Noun
Nibble on crispy pork cheek, pearly mussels, and pumpkin and ricotta tortellini for starters—while mains range from confit chicken leg to hoi sin braised short rib (with Asian slaw and wasabi peas) and The Swan Burger, thick and juicy, with applewood cheddar, onion rings and crispy French fries.
—Lewis Nunn, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2025
For mains, opt for the branzino, cooked perfectly with crispy skin, and the long and plump macaroni are covered in a delicious tomato sauce are irresistible.
—Rana Good, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for main
Recent Examples of Synonyms for main
Adjective
-
The port has a heavy military presence in addition to being a primary hub for fuel imports, Yemeni sources said.—
USA Today,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2025
-
Williams pointed to rising production costs and declining attendee donations as primary reasons the Silver Room Block Party could not continue, highlighting a reality that all street festival organizers face right now.—
Pamela Maass,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Hugo saw that something as simple as shoes could be solved with the right approach and insights, cementing his belief in the power of technology to solve real-world problems.—
Jason Phillips,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2025
-
Skilled project leaders are needed to combine their technical skill set (project management tools like Trello and Asana) with power skills like leadership, stakeholder management, and problem-solving.—
Rachel Wells,
Forbes.com,
24 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Other countries must compete in qualifiers against nations from the same continent, followed by some inter-continental play-offs for certain countries.—
Callum Sutherland,
Time,
25 Apr. 2025
-
The population of great bustards, Otis tarda, is now down to less than 80 individuals, with some experts estimating the species will go extinct on the African continent by 2036.—
Irene Wright,
Miami Herald,
24 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
General manager Chris Drury has to make decisions involving his coach, his core and the players in supporting roles.—
Peter Baugh,
New York Times,
18 Apr. 2025
-
Zero Waste Plant-Based Countertop Compost Bin $50 Zero Waste $49 $45 Wayfair Specs Made from biodegradable bamboo fiber, this lightweight one-gallon bin reads more like a Scandi bread box than something meant to house apple cores and onion skins.—
Bailey Berg,
Architectural Digest,
17 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The two main red grapes here are Syrah and Grenache, with Syrah the predominant variety in the north and Grenache holding first place in the south, where it is also blended with other grapes including Mourvèdre, Carignan, and Cinsault.—
Mike DeSimone and Jeff Jenssen,
Robb Report,
18 Apr. 2025
-
For citizenship behavior, relationship quality was the predominant mediator.—
Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic,
Forbes.com,
15 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Try it as a dynamic warm-up: Experts now generally recommend warming up the muscles with gentle movement, rather than static stretching.—
The New York Times,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 Apr. 2025
-
Gentile cites recent research showing that proteins from phytoestrogens—whole soy foods such as edamame (soybeans) or tofu—help support muscle and increase the lean mass of older adults.—
Denise Maher,
Flow Space,
21 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
On Monday, stocks in Japan, Hong Kong and mainland China all posted gains.—
Joe Rennison,
New York Times,
14 Apr. 2025
-
Japan’s Nikkei 225 lost around 3.4% and South Korea’s Kospi fell 0.7%, but Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index climbed more than 1.8% and mainland China’s CSI 300 added roughly 0.5%.—
Yeo Boon Ping,
CNBC,
11 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Marcelle Bacchus, McAlmont's aunt, said in an April 11 Facebook post that the victim's body was supposed to be released from a mortuary on April 10 but was not released due to a spelling error with his name.—
Audrey Conklin,
FOXNews.com,
14 Apr. 2025
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Wine communicators thankfully will continue to share their love of wine, but regional bodies, businesses and wineries or producers can expand their success by connecting to wine lovers in person.—
Rachel King,
Forbes.com,
14 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Main.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/main. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.
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