primal

adjective

pri·​mal ˈprī-məl How to pronounce primal (audio)
1
: original, primitive
village life continued in its primal innocenceVan Wyck Brooks
2
: first in importance : primary

Examples of primal in a Sentence

the primal theme of the essay is toleration of religious diversity there was a period of primal idealism after the founding of the republic and before the rise of partisan politics
Recent Examples on the Web The two arrangements start off sounding fairly similar, swaggering in on a primal guitar riff for the ages. Ed Masley, The Arizona Republic, 20 Oct. 2024 But a classic creature feature takes deep, primal fears — the unknown, the dark, and everything that might be hiding there — and manifests them as grotesque beings that defy both science and nature. Katie Rife, EW.com, 18 Oct. 2024 For both creators, the story at the heart of Warriors speaks to something primal and deeply human. Hugh McIntyre, Forbes, 18 Oct. 2024 The sequence is grisly and disturbing in an almost primal way, perfectly setting up the stakes for the rest of the characters. Mark Peikert, IndieWire, 16 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for primal 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'primal.' 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

probably from prime entry 1 + -al entry 1

First Known Use

1604, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of primal was in 1604

Dictionary Entries Near primal

Cite this Entry

“Primal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/primal. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

primal

adjective
pri·​mal ˈprī-məl How to pronounce primal (audio)
1
: of or relating to the first period or state : primitive
2
: first in importance : basic

More from Merriam-Webster on primal

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