primo

1 of 3

noun

pri·​mo ˈprē-(ˌ)mō 

plural primos

: the first or leading part (as in a duet or trio)

primo

2 of 3

adverb

pri·​mo ˈprē-(ˌ)mō  ˈprī- 

: in the first place

primo

3 of 3

adjective

pri·​mo ˈprē-(ˌ)mō 

slang

: of the finest quality : excellent

Synonyms

Adjective

• A-OK
• A1
• awesome
• bang-up
• banner
• beautiful
• blue-chip
• blue-ribbon
• boffo
• bonny [chiefly British]
• bonnie
• boss [slang]
• brag
• brave
• bully
• bumper
• capital
• choice
• classic
• cool [slang]
• corking
• crackerjack
• cracking
• dandy
• divine
• dope [slang]
• down [slang]
• dynamite
• excellent
• fab
• fabulous
• famous
• fantabulous [slang]
• fantastic
• fine
• first-class
• first-rate
• first-string
• five-star
• four-star
• frontline
• gangbusters
• gangbuster
• gilt-edged
• gilt-edge
• gone [slang]
• grand
• great
• groovy
• heavenly
• high-class
• hot
• hype [slang]
• immense
• jim-dandy
• keen
• lovely
• marvelous
• marvellous
• mean
• neat
• nifty
• noble
• number one
• No. 1
• numero uno
• out-of-sight [slang]
• par excellence
• peachy
• peachy keen
• phat [slang]
• prime
• prize
• prizewinning
• quality
• radical [slang]
• righteous [slang]
• sensational
• slick
• splendid
• stellar
• sterling
• superb
• superior
• superlative
• supernal
• swell
• terrific
• tip-top
• top
• top-notch
• top-of-the-line
• top-shelf
• topflight
• topping [chiefly British]
• unsurpassed
• wizard [chiefly British]
• wonderful

Examples of primo in a Sentence

Adjective

I found a primo parking space right out front.

thanked the volunteers for a really primo job on the parish fund-raiser

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Now, the primo mettle tester that is Oakmont beckons the world’s best as the first round of the 125th U.S. Open tees off Thursday morning. —Mike Dojc, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025

And selecting Gavin Creel for the primo final spot was an absolutely perfect, heartbreaking grace note on the whole thing. —Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 9 June 2025

There are only 32 of these coaching jobs in the world, and as bad as the Blackhawks have been the last few seasons, this is still a primo gig. —Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 22 May 2025

Meet the brand's Sculpting Body Stone: the 3D equivalent of a primo skin-care formula. —Allure, 14 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Italian, from primo first, from Latin primus

Adverb

perhaps borrowed from Italian, "first" — more at primo entry 1

Adjective

probably borrowed from Italian, "first, foremost, principal" — more at primo entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1792, in the meaning defined above

Adverb

circa 1901, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1972, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for primo

• acknow
• aglow
• ago
• airglow
• aloe
• altho
• although
• ammo
• backflow
• backhoe
• banjo
• barbeau