main

1 of 2

noun

1
: physical strength : force
used in the phrase with might and main
The next instant we were away down the river, clawing with might and main to keep out of the woods.Mark Twain
2
a
b
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
b

main

2 of 2

adjective

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

Examples of main in a Sentence

Noun My radio runs either off batteries or off the mains. Turn off the water at the mains. Adjective 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! See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Each day has a different mix of snacks and mains — and the orders include a reusable bento box-style lunch box to pack the food. Sabrina Weiss, Peoplemag, 1 Aug. 2023 Choose from these sides, starters, mains and drinks, or head over to our Recipe Finder to find even more options for your breakfast spread. Anna Luisa Rodriguez, Washington Post, 10 May 2023 Rounding out the specs, the HMD Nokia G42 has a triple rear camera consisting of a 50-megapixel main, a 2-megapixel depth sensor, and a 2-megapixel macro sensor. Jon Porter, The Verge, 28 June 2023 The project will replace the existing 8-inch water main with 3,700 feet of 12-inch main from Seeley Avenue, headed south under the Interstate 57 overpass and east to 143rd Street, said village engineer Melanie Arnold. Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 12 June 2023 How did the introduction of gas mains transform family life? Sam Roberts, New York Times, 4 May 2023 The next year, to protect against those spikes, the city finally started handing out water filters to residents in neighborhoods where public works crews were replacing mains. Time, 9 July 2023 This comforting casserole combines ground beef, cornmeal, tomato sauce, corn, and cheese for a hearty main the whole family will love. Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 27 June 2023 The shifting earth has compacted the gas mains running north-south beneath the streets. WIRED, 15 June 2023
Adjective
In addition to the three main reception rooms, there’s a dining room, a study, and a kitchen with views towards the garden. Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 15 Sep. 2023 Ukraine’s main internal security service, the SBU, wrote on Telegram on Friday that Kolomoisky was accused of embezzling the equivalent of around $157 million. Adam Taylor, Washington Post, 15 Sep. 2023 The two main software applications are Epson ScanSmart and Epson Scan 2. David English, PCMAG, 15 Sep. 2023 Major cities clamored to place them along main avenues, including, in New York, in the median strips of Park Avenue in 1993. Stephen Kinzer, BostonGlobe.com, 15 Sep. 2023 The central bank has now raised its main interest rate at 10 consecutive meetings, taking it to the highest level since the launch of the euro currency in 1999. Krystal Hur, CNN, 15 Sep. 2023 Announced on Friday, the airline will launch new service connecting virtually every corner of the United States starting on June 7, 2024, including daily flights from its main hub in Atlanta to Fresno Santa Barbara in California. Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 15 Sep. 2023 Another series with Lyles as a main character is in the works, as well. Andrew Greif, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2023 Those increasingly urgent talks are the world’s main forum to address how to limit global warming. Max Bearak Sergey Ponomarev, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'main.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

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 main entry 2 or by shortening — more at may entry 1

Adjective

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

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of main was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near main

Cite this Entry

“Main.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/main. Accessed 26 Sep. 2023.

Kids Definition

main

1 of 2 noun
1
: physical strength : force
used in the phrase with might and main
2
3
: the chief part : essential point
they are in the main well trained
4
: a principal pipe or circuit of a utility system
gas main
water main

main

2 of 2 adjective
1
: chief entry 1 sense 2, principal
the main idea
2
: pure sense 3, sheer
by main force
3
: being a clause that is capable of standing alone as a simple sentence but is part of a larger sentence that includes a subordinate clause or another main clause
mainly adverb

Geographical Definition

Main

geographical name

ˈmīn How to pronounce Main (audio)
ˈmān
river 325 miles (523 kilometers) long in south central Germany rising in northern Bavaria in the Fichtelgebirge and flowing west into the Rhine River

More from Merriam-Webster on main

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