PRIMARY Synonyms: 155 Similar and Opposite Words

primary

adjective

ˈprī-ˌmer-ē

Definition of primary

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

as in direct

done or working without something else coming in between a crop failure that was the primary cause of the famine

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in chief

highest in rank or authority the movie's primary screenwriter

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of primary By contrast, the clearest long-term winners treated the creation of customer value as primary and used digital technology, and later AI, as means to that end. — Steve Denning, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026 Its open-plan layout includes a freestanding wood-burning stove, pale wood floors, and a kitchen with a waterfall island and flat-front cabinets, plus a primary bedroom and bunk room. — The Week Us, TheWeek, 3 Aug. 2026 The primary aim of this program is to attract and retain companies in target industries and increase the number of high-paying jobs for local residents. — Stephanie Leiser, The Conversation, 3 Aug. 2026 If Miller, who won his Republican primary unopposed, reverses course and drops out of the race by Aug, 5, GOP leaders could pick a replacement candidate to run in the November midterms general election. — Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 3 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for primary

Recent Examples of Synonyms for primary

Adjective

Al-Hilal is keen to offload the player, who is training separately from their main squad and not in coach Simoene Inzaghi's plans.

— Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026
The Nazca Lines, enormous drawings and ⁠geometric figures etched into desert plains in the south of the country, are one of Peru’s main tourist destinations, attracting approximately 100,000 annual visitors.

— Joe Kottke, NBC news, 2 Aug. 2026

Definition of main

Adjective

This was a different era, when most teams at that level would have played direct, physical football.

— James Pearce, New York Times, 22 July 2026
The last major hurricane to hit Miami-Dade County was the catastrophic Hurricane Andrew in 1992, but the city did not take a direct hit.

— Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 21 July 2026

Definition of direct

Adjective

The announcement comes as Polymarket and its chief rival, Kalshi, make daily headlines for contracts that invite users to wager on everything from sports to interest rate cuts to elections.

— Camila Grigera Naón, Fortune, 29 July 2026
The uncertainty created by such lack of guidance has become one of several legitimate problems that needs resolution, said Troy Flint, chief communications officer for the California School Boards Assn.

— Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2026

Definition of chief

Adjective

Last month, oil prices briefly fell to their lowest level since before the war on news that a preliminary peace agreement had been reached.

— Max Zahn, ABC News, 29 July 2026
The trouble began over the weekend, NASA said, well after LINK had hit several preliminary milestones, such as deploying its solar-power arrays and test firing its xenon-gas thrusters, during its commissioning phase.

— Lee Billings, Scientific American, 29 July 2026

Definition of preliminary

Adjective

While summer is still the predominant season, the average acreage burned in winter, spring and fall have all increased too, according to the analysis.

— Ignacio Calderon, USA Today, 16 July 2026
Repeated, large fires have caused a decline in the predominant species of conifers, the black spruce, shifting what vegetation regrows.

— Joshua Partlow, The Atlantic, 16 July 2026

Definition of predominant

Adjective

Nunez’s statement did not spell out what that meant in practice and there was no immediate response to a request from the ministry for further comment.

— CNN Money, CNN Money, 31 July 2026
Officials are hopeful that the immediate areas near the stadium will be done by the middle of August, and the final configuration will be ready.

— Mac Engel July 31, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 July 2026

Definition of immediate

Adjective

The executions have drawn attention to the ageing death-row population in the US, as well as Florida’s status as the foremost death penalty state.

— Harriet Marsden, TheWeek, 16 July 2026
Among the most significant was the signing of a Letter of Intent between the Bharat Tex Trade Federation (BTTF) and Première Vision Paris, one of the world’s foremost textile and fashion sourcing platforms.

— Mayu Saini, Footwear News, 15 July 2026

Definition of foremost

Adjective

Prince Gabriel, 22, completed a one-year preparatory course at the National Mathematics & Science College in England before graduating from the Royal Military Academy of Belgium.

— Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 27 July 2026
The Western Cape High Court judgment on Friday does not stop the impeachment committee from doing other preparatory work for the pending proceedings.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 July 2026