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
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of main
Charlotte Minnick, Hartford Courant, 20 Dec. 2024
Made up of two main islands, its land area is about twice the size of Washington DC.
—Catherine Nicholls, CNN, 19 Dec. 2024
Gregory Wakeman, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Nov. 2024
Appetizers include tempura lobster tails, chicken wings and fried calamari, and mains include short-ribs, pastas and a NY strip.
—Mckenzie Rankin, Axios, 24 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for main 
Adjective
Fertilizers are made up of three main nutrients: nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K).
—Charlotte Minnick, Hartford Courant, 20 Dec. 2024
Made up of two main islands, its land area is about twice the size of Washington DC.
—Catherine Nicholls, CNN, 19 Dec. 2024
Noun
Damage to roads proved to be a major inconvenience, especially as broken sewage, water and gas mains prevented people from getting to work in the morning.
—Gregory Wakeman, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Nov. 2024
Appetizers include tempura lobster tails, chicken wings and fried calamari, and mains include short-ribs, pastas and a NY strip.
—Mckenzie Rankin, Axios, 24 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for main
Recent Examples of Synonyms for main
Adjective
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Nvidia has been the primary beneficiary of the ongoing artificial intelligence boom, with its next-generation AI chip Blackwell now in focus.Shafi Musaddique, CNBC, 13 Dec. 2024
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Yes, the New York Mets offered the most money, and although neither Soto nor Boras will say it, that’s as primary a factor as any in his decision to sign with the Mets.Tim Britton, The Athletic, 13 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Texas is generating by far the most electricity from wind power and is fast deploying battery energy storage.Ella Nilsen, CNN, 19 Dec. 2024
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Plyometrics is a type of exercise that involves quickly stretching and contracting muscles to create explosive movements with bodyweight resistance, increasing muscle power.Sherri Gordon, Health, 19 Dec. 2024
Noun
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The exhibition gathers more than 350 objects, spanning from the 1920s to the present, by artists on four continents: Africa, North America, South America, and Europe.Chadd Scott, Forbes, 21 Dec. 2024
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Amongst legacy fashion houses and designers across continents, menswear leaned into innovative designs that pushed the boundaries of conventional garments.Greg Emmanuel, Essence, 21 Dec. 2024
Noun
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The new leadership immediately homed in on the core values required to establish a fresh sense of belief in the company: trust and transparency.Kyle J. Russell, USA TODAY, 13 Dec. 2024
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Social Security is currently built around two core principles.Ben Ritz, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Multicolored sleepwear made of flannel, cotton and satin was the predominant attire among attendees to adorn the beginning of the end of Un Último Sueño, Gira Los Estadios (One Last Dream, The Stadiums Tour).Natalia Cano, Billboard, 14 Dec. 2024
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For his part, DiMarco worked to ensure that the film’s American Sign Language, which is the predominant language in the doc, is portrayed and interpreted accurately.Mia Galuppo, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Dec. 2024
Noun
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In addition to providing a momentary escape from flight delays and restless children, this type of micro-mobility for the workplace also helps build employees’ muscles for choosing the best places to do their work.Phil Kirschner, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024
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The Senate report released Sunday said the company forces workers to repeat the same movements hundreds, if not thousands, of times each shift, resulting in extremely high rates of injury to their muscles and joints.Chris Isidore, CNN, 16 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Zixu Wang is a Times reporter and researcher covering news in mainland China and Hong Kong.Alexandra Stevenson, New York Times, 20 Dec. 2024
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The ICBMs are all capable of reaching the U.S. mainland in the event of a nuclear conflict.Ryan Chan, Newsweek, 20 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Some people are drawn to the sight of bodies in motion.Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2024
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After bringing the puck into the offensive zone, Tippett had the awareness to body defender Damon Severson off the puck, allowing Frost a shooting lane to lift it through Merzlikins at 11:51.Kevin Kurz, The Athletic, 22 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near main
Cite this Entry
“Main.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/main. Accessed 26 Dec. 2024.
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