Definition of prime
1a often capitalized : the second of the canonical hoursb : the first hour of the day usually considered either as 6 a.m. or the hour of sunrise
3 : the most active, thriving, or satisfying stage or period in the prime of his life
4 : the chief or best individual or part : pick prime of the flock, and choicest of the stall — Alexander Pope
5 : prime number
6a : the first note or tone of a musical scale : tonicb : the interval between two notes on the same staff degree
7 : the symbol ′ used to distinguish arbitrary characters (such as a and a′), to indicate a specific unit (such as feet or minutes of time or angular measure), or to indicate the derivative of a function (such as p′ or f′(x)) — compare double prime
8 : prime rate
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Examples of prime in a Sentence
young college graduates in the prime of life
The interest rate is two percent plus prime.
Recent Examples of prime from the Web
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George is a top-10 player and a two-way wing on the right side of his prime, an asset more valuable than draft picks galore.
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Modi, the first Indian prime minister to visit Israel, arrived at a time of good relations between the two countries, which are marking 25 years of diplomatic ties.
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He was replaced a few years later by Ehud Barak, the former prime minister who once famously apologized to Mizrahi voters for the party's previous misdeeds.
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No other post-war British prime minister would be honored in such a way.
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There has never been a Mizrahi prime minister, for example, and Ashkenazi Jews far outnumber Mizrahi Jews in areas like academia and the judiciary.
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Its first prime minister, Sir John A. MacDonald, was an incorrigible drunk.
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Beckham, with years of prime ahead of him, can do the same.
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In its prime, Dolphin had served the sailboat salmon fishing industry in Bristol Bay by towing the vessels out of port and later loading their catch on its open deck for transport to the canneries.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'prime.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of prime
Middle English, from Old English prīm, from Latin prima hora first hour
Other Calendar Terms
prime
Definition of prime
1 : first in time : original
2a : of, relating to, or being a prime number — compare relatively primeb : having no polynomial factors other than itself and no monomial factors other than 1 a prime polynomialc : expressed as a product of prime factors (such as prime numbers and prime polynomials) a prime factorization
3a : first in rank, authority, or significance : principal a prime exampleb : having the highest quality or value prime farmlandc : of the highest grade regularly marketed —used of meat and especially beef
4 : not deriving from something else : primary
primely
adverbprimeness
nounExamples of prime in a Sentence
The wine industry is of prime importance to the California economy.
The police have not yet named the prime suspect in the murder investigation.
The house is expensive because it's in a prime location.
Recent Examples of prime from the Web
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Cost is $80 per person and includes golf, cart, and a prime rib dinner.
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The prime minister, Haider al-Abadi, wants to get people home quickly, but the UN says 200,000 have none to return to.
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Only hours are slated for the Howard County Council’s consideration of all of the above and much more —during prime vacation time!
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The family had staked out a prime spot, popped up a shade tent and set up their lawn chairs.
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If the Escape is the small and perky littlest sibling in this quintet (a sixth SUV, the subcompact EcoSport, has yet to go on sale), and the Explorer and the Expedition are the prime movers, then the Edge falls in between as a blend of both.
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Seasoned parade-goers arrive early for prime seating in the shade along the parade route.
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These are prime Instagram content, and super easy to make.
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WHAT: Arrive early to claim a prime viewing spot for the fireworks, and spend the day swimming, riding inflatable slides, and doing arts and crafts while a DJ plays patriotic music.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'prime.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of prime
Middle English, from Anglo-French, feminine of prim first, from Latin primus; akin to Latin prior
Other Business Terms
prime
Definition of prime
primed
;priming
transitive verb
2a : to prepare for firing by supplying with primingb : to insert a primer into (a cartridge case)
3 : to apply the first color, coating, or preparation to prime a wall
4a : to put into working order by filling or charging with something prime a pump with waterb : to supply with an essential prerequisite (such as a hormone, nucleic acid, or antigen) for chemical or biological activity primed female mice with estrogen
5 : to instruct beforehand : coach primed the witness
6 : stimulate
intransitive verb
: to become prime
prime the pump
: to take steps to encourage the growth or functioning of something
Examples of prime in a Sentence
She was obviously primed for the questions at the press conference.
Both teams are primed for battle and ready to play.
We sanded and primed the woodwork before painting.
Recent Examples of prime from the Web
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How to prime our vehicles to maneuver in those environments?
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The program's goal is pretty straightforward — the companies are investing to prime the area's engineering job pipeline and advance their own corporate goals.
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The money, which will be a mix of public and private funding, is intended to further prime the private investment pump.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'prime.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of prime
probably from 1prime
Financial Definition of PRIME
prime
What It Is
In the finance world, prime is short for prime rate, which is the interest rate commercial banks charge their most creditworthy customers, which are usually corporations.
How It Works
Anyone who has borrowed money knows that different banks charge different interest rates. So when people refer to the prime rate, they are usually referring to the average prime rate among banks. The Wall Street Journal is the most common source for this statistic. It calculates the average prime rate by surveying the 30 largest banks in the U.S. Below is a sample graph of the historical average prime rate published by the Federal Reserve, which surveys 25 banks across the nation.
In general, the rate is the same among nearly all the surveyed banks, and they tend to change their rates at the same time. When 75% of these banks (23 banks) change their rates, The Wall Street Journal changes its average.
Why It Matters
Prime is one of the most widely used market indicators, albeit a lagging one, and it is a major benchmark for mortgage and credit card rates. It is often the basis for adjustable-rate loans. For example, if a bank is offering a home equity loan at “prime plus 5” and its prime rate is 6%, then the bank is essentially offering borrowers an 11% loan (6% + 5%) whose interest rate will fluctuate with the prime rate. It is important to remember that not everyone qualifies for prime -- this rate is only for customers least likely to default.
PRIME Defined for English Language Learners
prime
playDefinition of prime for English Language Learners
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: the period in life when a person is best in health, strength, etc. : the most active or successful time of a person's life
prime
Definition of prime for English Language Learners
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: most important
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: of the highest quality or value
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—used to say that someone or something is a very good example of a particular kind of person or thing
prime
Definition of prime for English Language Learners
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: to make (someone) ready to do something
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: to make (something) ready for use
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: to cover (a surface) with special paint in order to prepare it for the final layer of paint
PRIME Defined for Kids
Definition of prime for Students
: the period in life when a person is best in health, looks, or strength
Definition of prime for Students
: first in importance, rank, or quality Spring is a prime season to work outdoors.
Definition of prime for Students
primed
;priming
1 : to put a first color or coating on Prime the wall before painting.
2 : to put into working order by filling prime a pump
3 : to make (someone or something) ready The coach is priming him to be quarterback.
Law Dictionary
prime
Legal Definition of prime
primed
priming
: to have priority over a perfected security interest primes an unperfected one
Learn More about prime
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See words that rhyme with prime Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for prime Spanish Central: Translation of prime Nglish: Translation of prime for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of prime for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about prime
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