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primarily

adverb

pri·​mar·​i·​ly prī-ˈmer-ə-lē How to pronounce primarily (audio)
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
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.
At the same time, the former Los Angeles Dodger primarily plays center field, the position where fielding and overage matter most. Nelson Espinal, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Nov. 2025 It is primarily composed of easily available soil, hemp fibers, sand, and biochar. Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 25 Nov. 2025 This $0 annual fee card also offers cell phone protection of up to $600, but has limited additional perks, serving primarily as a way to help pay down credit card debt. Ryley Amond, CNBC, 25 Nov. 2025 The movie was shot primarily in Hungary, but according to the script, all the action takes place in an Indiana town. Domenica Bongiovanni, IndyStar, 25 Nov. 2025 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Primarily.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/primarily. Accessed 26 Nov. 2025.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on primarily

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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