primarily

adverb

pri·​mar·​i·​ly prī-ˈmer-ə-lē How to pronounce primarily (audio)
also prə-
chiefly British ˈprī-mə-rə-lē
Synonyms of primarilynext
1
: for the most part : chiefly
… has now become primarily a residential town …S. P. B. Mais
2
: 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
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.
The interior is primarily done up in black but features gold and purple accents that match the exterior. Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 12 June 2026 Its previous models focused primarily on visibility and safety, helping cyclists become more noticeable and predictable to car drivers on the road. Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 12 June 2026 Today, most organizations are still evaluating AI primarily through the lens of model quality, benchmark performance and productivity assistance. Srini Attili, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026 Rather, Musk and SpaceX see the majority of its value in providing AI services, mostly from space, and primarily for enterprise applications. Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 12 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for primarily

Word History

First Known Use

1601, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of primarily was in 1601

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Cite this Entry

“Primarily.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/primarily. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

primarily

adverb
pri·​mar·​i·​ly prī-ˈmer-ə-lē How to pronounce primarily (audio)
1
: for the most part : chiefly
2
: in the first place : originally

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