main

play

noun \ ˈmān \

Definition of main

1 :physical strength :force —used in the phrase with might and main

2 a :mainland

b :high sea

3 :the chief part :essential point

they are in the main well-trained

4 :a pipe, duct, or circuit which carries the combined flow of tributary branches of a utility system

5 a :mainmast

b :mainsail

See main defined for English-language learners

See main defined for kids

Examples of main in a Sentence

My radio runs either off batteries or off the mains.
Turn off the water at the mains.

Recent Examples of main from the Web

Those veggies arrive as pretty seasonal salads tossed with fresh cheese, grains and nuts; creative starters bedecked with flowers and mains sourced from a familiar cast of name-brand Oregon farms.

— samantha bakall, OregonLive.com, "Quaintrelle's seasonal menu shines on North Mississippi: Scouting Report," 2 Aug. 2017
According to Arian Collins, a spokesman for the city’s water department, a broken collar that connects two sections of the 16-inch main caused the flooding.

— lauryn schroeder, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Water main break floods Little Italy," 30 July 2017
Lisa Tagliapietra said in February 2016 an underground water main broke, flooding the rink building with over two feet of water.

— denys bucksten, chicagotribune.com, "D-70 PTO raising money for those affected by Mundelein flooding," 24 July 2017
A structural engineer has been retained to assess the structural integrity of the wall, the statement added, and the water main was shut down.

— frank s. abderholden, Lake County News-Sun, "From school library to railroad tracks, Lake County floodwaters take a toll," 12 July 2017
Grim timeline The system has been hobbled since December 2016: -- Dec. 17: The 30-inch sewer main broke in the 500 block of Southwest Seventh Street in the Tarpon River neighborhood.

— brittany wallman, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Fort Lauderdale sewage system overflowed into streets," 7 July 2017
The old Indian Creek Library branch location at 127th and Black Bob Road flooded in 2016 when a water main broke and damaged the building’s foundation.

— steve vockrodt, kansascity.com, "Gould Evans lands design contract for new Indian Creek Library in Olathe," 28 June 2017
The savings could be used as part of a $177 million update of the city's aging and deteriorating distribution system, including fixing leaky water mains and replacing lead service lines.

— CBS News, "Michigan sues Flint after city council doesn't approve water deal," 28 June 2017
Even though the city offers, during major street-repair projects, to replace lead pipes connecting homes with city water mains, many homeowners simply refuse.

— chris mondics, Philly.com, "Activists, community groups test for lead," 24 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'main.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of main

in sense 1, from Middle English, from Old English mǣgen; akin to Old High German magan strength, Old English magan to be able; in other senses, from ²main or by shortening — more at may

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

main Synonyms

Synonyms

beef, brawn, muscle, thew

Related Words

force, might, potency, power, puissance, sinew; energy, vigor

Near Antonyms

impotence, impotency, weakness; debilitation, debility, enfeeblement, faintness, feebleness, frailness, frailty, infirmity

main

adjective

Definition of main

1 :chief, principal

the main idea

2 :fully exerted :sheer

main force

by main strength

3 obsolete :of or relating to a broad expanse (as of sea)

4 :connected with or located near the mainmast or mainsail

5 :expressing the chief predication in a complex sentence

the main clause

See main defined for English-language learners

Examples of main in a Sentence

Speed is the main advantage of this approach.
The company's main office is located in New York.
driving down the main road
This dish can be served as a main course or appetizer.
And now for the main event of the evening!

Recent Examples of main from the Web

Another part of the downtown loop project, on 18th Street from Grand Boulevard to The Paseo, will be postponed until major water main work is done on 18th Street.

— lynn horsley, kansascity, "Cyclists could get their wish for Grand Boulevard by late October," 30 Aug. 2017
An entire bay of Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company’s main station on Hickory Avenue was nearly full by noon Wednesday.

— erika butler, The Aegis, "Donations pour in to Bel Air fire company for Harvey victims," 30 Aug. 2017
But any such action against Pyongyang must include China, a permanent veto-wielding member of the Security Council, which is also North Korea’s main benefactor.

— krishnadev calamur, The Atlantic, "The Trump Administration's Evolving Rhetoric on North Korea," 29 Aug. 2017
Kissée likened it to the new Children’s Pavilion under construction on the main Downtown Boise campus.

— audrey dutton, idahostatesman, "What’s going on that dirt lot? Probably a new St. Luke’s facility," 29 Aug. 2017
But Aragone came away from the match with experience to build upon — and also left $50,000 richer for making it to the main draw.

— david waldstein, New York Times, "U.S. Open Tennis: First-Round Upsets, Results and Schedule," 28 Aug. 2017
Some of those now taking shelter from Tropical Storm Harvey at Houston’s main convention center may be having flashbacks to a previous storm.

— julie watson, The Seattle Times, "Houston evokes painful memories of Katrina," 27 Aug. 2017
And as the main characters of this show have dwindled to a select living few, some of these details and connections between them become even more important.

— matt miller, Esquire, "Jon Snow and Cersei Lannister Have an Interesting Connection on Game of Thrones," 23 Aug. 2017
There are two main forms of diabetes: type 1 and type 2.

— jaclyn london, ms, rd, Good Housekeeping, "Everything You Need to Know About a Diabetic Diet," 23 Aug. 2017

Origin and Etymology of main

Middle English, from Old English mǣgen-, from mǣgen strength

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

main Synonyms

Synonyms

arch, big, capital, cardinal, central, chief, dominant, first, grand, great, greatest, highest, key, leading, foremost, master, number one (also No. 1), numero uno, overbearing, overmastering, overriding, paramount, predominant, preeminent, premier, primal, primary, principal, prior, sovereign (also sovran), supreme

Antonyms

last, least

Related Words

distinguished, eminent, illustrious, noble, notable, noteworthy, outstanding, prestigious, signal, star, stellar, superior; high-level, senior, top; important, influential, major, mighty, momentous, significant; incomparable, matchless, unequaled (or unequalled), unparalleled, unsurpassed; celebrated, famed, famous, renowned

Near Antonyms

inconsequential, inconsiderable, insignificant, minor, negligible, slight, trifling, trivial, unimportant; collateral, inferior, secondary, subordinate, subsidiary

Main

play

geographical name \ ˈmīn , ˈmān \

Definition of Main

river 325 miles (523 kilometers) long in south central Germany rising in northern Bavaria in the Fichtelgebirge and flowing west into the Rhine River

MAIN Defined for English Language Learners

main

play

noun

Definition of main for English Language Learners

: the largest pipe in a system of connected pipes
the mains : the system of pipes or wires for electricity, gas, or water
: the place where electricity, gas, or water enters a building or room

main

adjective

Definition of main for English Language Learners

: most important

MAIN Defined for Kids

main

play

adjective \ ˈmān \

Definition of main for Students

:first in size, rank, or importance :chief

Go in the main entrance.

What's the main reason?

—

mainly

adverb

main

noun

Definition of main for Students

1 :the chief part :essential point

The new workers are in the main well trained.

2 :a principal line, tube, or pipe of a utility system

water main

gas main

3 :high seas

4 :physical strength :force

So they stood … both shoving with might and main …
—Mark Twain, Tom Sawyer

Learn More about main

See words that rhyme with main Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for main Spanish Central: Translation of main Nglish: Translation of main for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of main for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up main? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

main

Definition of main

People Are Reading

Examples of main in a Sentence

Recent Examples of main from the Web

Origin and Etymology of main

main Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

main

Definition of main

Examples of main in a Sentence

Recent Examples of main from the Web

Origin and Etymology of main

main Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

Main

Definition of Main

Phrases Related to MAIN

Related Phrases

MAIN Defined for English Language Learners

main

Definition of main for English Language Learners

main

Definition of main for English Language Learners

MAIN Defined for Kids

main

Definition of main for Students

mainly

main

Definition of main for Students

Learn More about main

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

'So Long': A Common But Mysterious Goodbye

9 Slang Words With Academic Origins

Trending: 'Bodega' Startup Draws Criticism, Mockery

Challenging Vocabulary Quiz Returns!

Words of the Year: 1066