primarily
adverb
pri·mar·i·ly
prī-ˈmer-ə-lē 
also prə-
chiefly British ˈprī-mə-rə-lē
1
: for the most part : chiefly
… has now become primarily a residential town …—
S. P. B. Mais
S. P. B. Mais2
: 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
Service Guests are looked after primarily by husband-and-wife team John and Olivia de Villiers who coordinate and host every aspect of a stay at Freelands.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Mar. 2026
The production took place in two-episode blocks and was primarily chronological, with directors David Gordon Green and Charlotte Brändström at the helm.
—Emily Zemler, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2026
The high costs are likely only temporary, depending primarily on the longevity of the conflict in the Middle East.
—Washington Examiner Staff, The Washington Examiner, 11 Mar. 2026
The company, primarily based in New York and London, specializes in audio technology and offers a vast database of licensed and copyright-compliant voices that uses can access as an AI platform.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for primarily
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Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Mar. 2026
The production took place in two-episode blocks and was primarily chronological, with directors David Gordon Green and Charlotte Brändström at the helm.
—Emily Zemler, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2026
The high costs are likely only temporary, depending primarily on the longevity of the conflict in the Middle East.
—Washington Examiner Staff, The Washington Examiner, 11 Mar. 2026
The company, primarily based in New York and London, specializes in audio technology and offers a vast database of licensed and copyright-compliant voices that uses can access as an AI platform.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for primarily
Cite this Entry
“Primarily.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/primarily. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
primarily
adverb
pri·mar·i·ly
prī-ˈmer-ə-lē
1
: for the most part : chiefly
2
: in the first place : originally
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