1
as in main
coming before all others in importance
the primary concern for many house hunters is the asking price
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
3
as in chief
highest in rank or authority
the movie's primary screenwriter
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in preliminary
coming before the main part or item usually to introduce or prepare for what follows
a few minutes of primary instruction in the use of our diving gear before we actually got into the water
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of primary
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) have both published papers acknowledging A.I.’s future in aircraft operations, emphasizing that safety needs to be the primary criterion for certification.
—
Daniel Cote, Robb Report, 16 Feb. 2025
So, examining the plot, the directors’ screenplay lays out two primary character arcs, yet with their fast-cutting visuals and offbeat découpage, telling them apart and fully differentiating them is a challenging task, especially in the first act.
—David Katz, IndieWire, 16 Feb. 2025
Passengers at North Carolina's primary airport are encountering delays as winter storms and cold conditions grip much of the Southeast.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 16 Feb. 2025
Democratic primary voters have a strong sense of fear and anxiety about the state of the city today.
—Bradley Honan, New York Daily News, 5 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for primary
Daniel Cote, Robb Report, 16 Feb. 2025
So, examining the plot, the directors’ screenplay lays out two primary character arcs, yet with their fast-cutting visuals and offbeat découpage, telling them apart and fully differentiating them is a challenging task, especially in the first act.
—David Katz, IndieWire, 16 Feb. 2025
Passengers at North Carolina's primary airport are encountering delays as winter storms and cold conditions grip much of the Southeast.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 16 Feb. 2025
Democratic primary voters have a strong sense of fear and anxiety about the state of the city today.
—Bradley Honan, New York Daily News, 5 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for primary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for primary
Adjective
-
The group was dealt another blow with the fall of the Assad family's five-decade rule in Syria in early December, which blocked a main route for the flow of weapons and money from Iran.—
BASSEM MROUE,
arkansasonline.com,
24 Feb. 2025
-
What’s different this time is how Wilds‘ main antagonist, the White Wraith, behaves.—
Josh Broadwell,
Rolling Stone,
24 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Conveniently placed less than a 15-minute drive from Iowa State University and downtown Ames, the home’s rural setting appears a world away from any major metropolis, part of the immediate appeal for the right type of buyer.—
Richard Lane,
USA TODAY,
24 Feb. 2025
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The language used in the executive order was an immediate red flag for Max Wiznitzer, MD, a pediatric neurologist at Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital in Cleveland and co-chair of the Professional Advisory Board at CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder).—
Elizabeth Yuko,
Rolling Stone,
23 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Schumacher, who joined as CEO in July 2023, will be succeeded by Fernando Fernandez, a Unilever veteran who is currently serving as chief financial officer and executive director.—
Samantha Conti,
WWD,
25 Feb. 2025
-
Also last week: Newsom’s chief disaster officer asked the Trump administration to test soil for toxic chemicals in areas burned by the Eaton and Palisades fires.—
Sammy Roth,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Crowley-Sanders is next scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on Feb. 27 and is currently being held in custody on a $1 million bond, according to court records.—
Lauren Penington,
The Denver Post,
16 Feb. 2025
-
Judge Jackson will hold a hearing on February 26 at 10:00am to consider imposing a preliminary injunction.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
16 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Laser direct infrared imaging—an advanced form of microscopy using laser light—was used to detect and count the microplastic particles in each bird's lungs.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
28 Feb. 2025
-
The claim: Zelenskyy blocked access to Truth Social in Ukraine A Feb. 20 Threads post (direct link, archive link) claims a social media platform launched years ago by President Donald Trump is no longer available in a certain country.—
Chris Mueller,
USA TODAY,
28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Before becoming one of America’s foremost historians, a Pulitzer Prize winner and writer of seminal books on Abraham Lincoln (a basis for the Steven Spielberg film Lincoln), Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Teddy Roosevelt and Johnson, Kearns Goodwin became a White House Fellow under LBJ.—
Mike Fleming Jr,
Deadline,
14 Feb. 2025
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At his death in 1996, he was considered one of the country’s foremost historians of the Black experience in America.—
Jeffrey Boutwell,
Baltimore Sun,
12 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
This method can temporarily manage symptoms or serve as a preparatory step before a more comprehensive surgical procedure.11 2.—
Lindsay Curtis,
Health,
24 Dec. 2024
-
But this time measures like the travel ban were replaced by more methodical reviews and preparatory actions that could serve as the precursors to such policies while putting them on more solid legal footing.—
Jonathan Blitzer,
The New Yorker,
24 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
The predominant flavors are salt and starch, unattractive in print but deeply comforting on a steaming spoon.—
Bradley Hohulin,
The Indianapolis Star,
19 Feb. 2025
-
Miso is a staple ingredient in Japanese cooking and is the predominant flavor in things like miso soup.—
Sarah Martens,
Better Homes & Gardens,
18 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Primary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/primary. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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