prim

1 of 3

adjective

primmer; primmest
1
a
: stiffly formal and proper : decorous
b
2
: neat, trim
prim hedges
primly adverb
primness noun

prim

2 of 3

verb

primmed; primming

transitive verb

1
: to give a prim or demure expression to
primming her thin lips after every mouthfulJohn Buchan
2
: to dress primly

prim

3 of 3

abbreviation

Examples of prim in a Sentence

Adjective He has prim views on religion. Her aunts were very prim and proper.
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Depending on your styling, the shade can be prim, cheery, sophisticated, carefree, office-ready, or coquettish. Jake Smith, Glamour, 22 Feb. 2024 For more prim and proper accessories, there are simple belts, dainty jewels, and silky neck scarves. Laura Jackson, Vogue, 15 Feb. 2024 In a business characterized by the prim elegance of Hollywood attorneys like the late Bert Fields, Morris seemed more at ease in T-shirts with long hair. Tribune News Service, Hartford Courant, 10 Jan. 2024 In a business characterized by the prim elegance of Hollywood attorneys like the late Bert Fields, Morris seemed more at ease wearing T-shirts and long hair. Matt Hamilton, Los Angeles Times, 3 Jan. 2024 Her all-business aesthetic also alienates her from the other women on staff, secretaries who dress in soft pastels with prim details, like scalloped collars and flouncy ribbons. Fawnia Soo Hoo, refinery29.com, 9 Nov. 2023 So say goodbye to itchy wool sweaters, prim blouses, and knee-length skirts, because the Biebers are modeling a new take on church clothes for a hip, young, God-fearing generation. Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 14 Dec. 2023 Insta-ready blazers for layering, perfectly cropped hoodies, holiday-ready tops, and prim white T-shirts? Malia Griggs, Glamour, 27 Nov. 2023 Classical Music The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, an organization known for its prim devotion to the classics, gets a little chaotic in the first program of its annual Baroque Festival. The New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2023

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

Adjective

derivative of or akin to prim entry 2

Verb

earlier as intransitive verb, "to assume a formal or demure air," of obscure origin

Note: First attested in the comedies of Thomas d'urfey, as Fool's Preferment (1688) and The Marriage-Hater Match'd (1692). Akin in sense to primp, attested earlier, though the verb as well as the adjective primp "(of the mouth) pursed, primly set" are nearly exclusive to Scots and American English.

First Known Use

Adjective

1702, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1707, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of prim was in 1702

Dictionary Entries Near prim

Cite this Entry

“Prim.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prim. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

prim

adjective
ˈprim
primmer; primmest
: very fussy about one's appearance and behavior
primly adverb
primness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on prim

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!