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
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
Trump soundly won the GOP primary race in 2016 and carried Florida in the general election.
—Elizabeth Crisp, The Hill, 18 Apr. 2025
In addition, the university will also serve as the primary sponsor at the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, scheduled for 25 May 2025.
—Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Apr. 2025
Photograph: Mario Tama/Getty Images Less than two months before the official start of hurricane season, the nation’s primary disaster-response agency faces an uncertain future.
—Molly Taft, Wired News, 18 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for primary
Pamela Maass, Chicago Tribune, 18 Apr. 2025
Trump soundly won the GOP primary race in 2016 and carried Florida in the general election.
—Elizabeth Crisp, The Hill, 18 Apr. 2025
In addition, the university will also serve as the primary sponsor at the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, scheduled for 25 May 2025.
—Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Apr. 2025
Photograph: Mario Tama/Getty Images Less than two months before the official start of hurricane season, the nation’s primary disaster-response agency faces an uncertain future.
—Molly Taft, Wired News, 18 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for primary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for primary
Adjective
-
The 9a's main camera takes 12MP images thanks to pixel binning, and the resulting shots are nearly identical to the Pixel 9 Pro's.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
10 Apr. 2025
-
Approach with caution, look at reviews, and maybe don’t use your main credit card (or at least keep your bank’s dispute line handy).—
Francesca Krempa,
StyleCaster,
10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The Coach Prime effect was immediate: the Buffaloes sold out every home game last season.—
Kimberly Wilson,
Essence,
9 Apr. 2025
-
There was some belief that when Trump’s tariffs went into effect at midnight the price impacts would be immediate, and some have already started to talk that way.—
Lori Ann LaRocco,
CNBC,
9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Before his stint in New York, Mengelberg became the youngest chief conductor of the city’s Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in 1895, when he was appointed at 24.—
Hannah Edgar,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Apr. 2025
-
Extreme temperatures are fueled by the climate crisis, the chief driver of which is the burning of fossil fuels.—
Sam Meredith,
CNBC,
14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
DuBose denied Libby's motion for a preliminary injunction Friday, ruling the process House Speaker Ryan Fecteau used to impose the sanction reflected the will of the majority of Maine House members.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
19 Apr. 2025
-
The issuing of a preliminary injunction comes in a lawsuit filed by a group of unions and retirees in Maryland, which is one of more than a dozen suits to raise alarms about the kind of data DOGE has accessed, and how such data could be used.—
Stephen Fowler,
NPR,
18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
For example, there’s a direct link between deforestation in the Amazon and the reduction of rainfall in the United States, and deforestation of the Congo Basin has a direct impact on reduction of rainfall in Europe (Duke research).—
Suwanna Gauntlett Upjohn,
Forbes.com,
17 Apr. 2025
-
Many described the Trump administration’s cancellations as a direct attack on science and research rooted in facts, warning that political interference is not just stalling progress but actively endangering public health.—
Angel Algarin,
Scientific American,
17 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders.—
Ryan Ferrier,
Forbes.com,
17 Apr. 2025
-
The Iranians are responding to several inducements, foremost among them the staggering array of forces the United States has prepositioned in the Middle East.—
The Editors,
National Review,
17 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
To qualify for the offer, high school seniors in Riverside County must meet the college preparatory courses (A-G requirements) that both Cal State and the University of California require for admissions.—
Michael T. Nietzel,
Forbes,
2 Nov. 2024
-
The overdraft rule, which the consumer bureau finalized in December after years of preparatory work, was scheduled to take effect in late 2025.—
Stacy Cowley,
New York Times,
27 Mar. 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
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For citizenship behavior, relationship quality was the predominant mediator.—
Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic,
Forbes.com,
15 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Primary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/primary. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.
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