primarily
adverb
pri·mar·i·ly
prī-ˈmer-ə-lē 
also prə-
chiefly British ˈprī-mə-rə-lē
1
: for the most part : chiefly
… has now become primarily a residential town …—
S. P. B. Mais
S. P. B. Mais2
: 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
Scott Dochterman Dane Brugler’s analysis A four-year starter, Zuhn worked primarily at left tackle in former offensive coordinator Collin Klein’s balanced scheme.
—Sam Warren, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
Technology has replaced the medium’s material substrate—once photochemical, now primarily electronic—and repeatedly modified its syntax, its narrative codes, its standards of realism.
—Dennis Lim, The New York Review of Books, 25 Apr. 2026
Still, Yang did not characterize her work, primarily, as art.
—Chang Che, New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2026
The new 35-page report calls for quickly boosting troop numbers and military capabilities, and is primarily aimed at deterring Russia, analysts said.
—Semafor Events, semafor.com, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for primarily
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.
Sam Warren, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
Technology has replaced the medium’s material substrate—once photochemical, now primarily electronic—and repeatedly modified its syntax, its narrative codes, its standards of realism.
—Dennis Lim, The New York Review of Books, 25 Apr. 2026
Still, Yang did not characterize her work, primarily, as art.
—Chang Che, New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2026
The new 35-page report calls for quickly boosting troop numbers and military capabilities, and is primarily aimed at deterring Russia, analysts said.
—Semafor Events, semafor.com, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for primarily
Cite this Entry
“Primarily.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/primarily. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
primarily
adverb
pri·mar·i·ly
prī-ˈmer-ə-lē
1
: for the most part : chiefly
2
: in the first place : originally
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
