primary

1 of 3

adjective

pri·​ma·​ry ˈprī-ˌmer-ē  ˈprī-mə-rē 

ˈprīm-rē

1

: first in order of time or development : primitive

the primary stage of civilization

the primary lesion of a disease

2

a

: of first rank, importance, or value : principal

the primary purpose

b

: basic, fundamental

security is a primary need

c

: of, relating to, or constituting the principal flight feathers of a bird's wing

d

: of or relating to agriculture, forestry, and the extractive industries or their products

e

: expressive of present or future time

primary tense

f

: of, relating to, or constituting the strongest of the three or four degrees of stress recognized by most linguists

the first syllable of basketball carries primary stress

3

a

: direct, firsthand

primary sources of information

b

: not derivable from other colors, odors, or tastes

c

: preparatory to something else in a continuing process

primary instruction

d

: of or relating to a primary school

primary education

e

: of or relating to a primary election

a primary candidate

f

: belonging to the first group or order in successive divisions, combinations, or ramifications

primary nerves

g

: directly derived from ores

primary metals

h

: of, relating to, or being the amino acid sequence in proteins

primary protein structure

4

: resulting from the substitution of one of two or more atoms or groups in a molecule

a primary amine

especially : being or characterized by a carbon atom having a bond to only one other carbon atom

5

: of, relating to, involving, or derived from primary meristem

primary tissue

primary growth

6

: of, relating to, or involved in the production of organic substances by green plants

primary productivity

7

: providing primary care

a primary physician

primary

2 of 3

noun

plural primaries

1

: something that stands first in rank, importance, or value : fundamental

—usually used in plural

2

: the celestial body around which one or more other celestial bodies revolve

especially : the more massive usually brighter component of a binary star system

3

: one of the usually 9 or 10 strong flight feathers on the distal joint of a bird's wing see wing illustration

4

a

: primary color

b

: the sensation of seeing primary colors

5

a

: caucus

b

: an election in which qualified voters nominate or express a preference for a particular candidate or group of candidates for political office, choose party officials, or select delegates for a party convention

6

: the coil that is connected to the source of electricity in an induction coil or transformer

called also primary coil

primary

3 of 3

verb

primaried; primarying; primaries

transitive verb

: to run against (an incumbent) in a primary election

She won the seat in 2020 after successfully primarying a veteran Democrat in the district.

—Brianne Pfannenstiel

—usually used in the passive

But he's apparently going to be primaried—by a couple of people you've never heard of …

—Gail Collins

He served a single term … but was primaried, and soundly defeated, in his bid for reelection.

—Daniel Foster

Synonyms

Adjective

• arch
• big
• capital
• cardinal
• central
• chief
• dominant
• first
• foremost
• grand
• great
• greatest
• highest
• key
• leading
• main
• master
• number one
• No. 1
• numero uno
• overbearing
• overmastering
• overriding
• paramount
• predominant
• preeminent
• premier
• primal
• principal
• prior
• sovereign
• sovran
• supreme

Examples of primary in a Sentence

Adjective

The economy was the primary focus of the debate.

The family is the primary social unit of human life.

The primary function of our schools is to educate our young people.

We just started our primary flight training.

The book is based mainly on primary sources rather than secondary sources.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

China is a key nation for the iPhone, its largest consumer market outside the U.S. and its primary production base. —Mark Gurman and Sarah Zheng / Bloomberg, TIME, 19 Apr. 2024

Marcus stressed the need for further civic engagement and took note of primary elections decided by smaller groups of voters who may advance candidates who don't represent larger community interests. —David Clarey, Journal Sentinel, 19 Apr. 2024

Two primary bedrooms can be found upstairs, both with en-suite bathrooms and one warmed by a fireplace tucked into the corner, and elsewhere is a large storage basement. —Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 19 Apr. 2024

Now a large portion of the state’s primary electorate, including the only Palestinian American congresswoman, was about to use that power to abandon him over his full-fledged support for Israel. —USA TODAY, 19 Apr. 2024

Banks is unopposed in the Republican primary after Seymour-area egg farmer John Rust was removed from the ballot in February due to the state’s two-primary law. —Brittany Carloni, The Indianapolis Star, 18 Apr. 2024

Following Duane's death, Betts took on more of a leadership role within the band and became its primary guitarist. —Ilana Kaplan, Peoplemag, 18 Apr. 2024

But a filing on Wednesday from Travalyst Ltd, which was founded by the prince, showed that America is now his primary residence — at least for business purposes. —Patrick Smith, NBC News, 18 Apr. 2024

Was that your primary reaction upon reading the script? —Ej Dickson, Rolling Stone, 18 Apr. 2024

Noun

Tsai continued to campaign on the derailment, but was outspent by two sitting legislators with more conventional platforms, and lost badly in the primary. —E. Tammy Kim, The New Yorker, 19 Apr. 2024

Whoever emerges from the primaries will be campaigning amid a turbulent presidential election featuring former President Donald Trump at the top of the GOP ticket. —Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 18 Apr. 2024

The deadline to register to vote in Kentucky's May 21 primary is at 4 p.m. Monday, April 22. —Louisville Courier-Journal, The Courier-Journal, 18 Apr. 2024

In 2022, Massie coasted to re-election in both the primary and the general election. —Carl Weiser, The Enquirer, 17 Apr. 2024

Most of the challenges reflect a desire to reduce the competition level in the July 30 primary. —Mary Jo Pitzl, The Arizona Republic, 16 Apr. 2024

Indiana's Republican gubernatorial candidates are in the midst of a fundraising and spending blitz as the clock winds down to the May 7 primary. —Kayla Dwyer, The Indianapolis Star, 16 Apr. 2024

In January, deepfake audio that impersonated President Joe Biden telling Democrats not to vote in the New Hampshire primary was sent to thousands of voters in a robocall. —Kat Tenbarge, NBC News, 16 Apr. 2024

Polls suggest Harris, who dropped out early in the 2020 presidential primary, has made strides with the Democratic base. —Noah Bierman, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2024

Verb

Another fight erupted in 2004, when the mayor of Jersey City recruited Steven Fulop to try to primary Mr. Menendez. —Nicholas Fandos, New York Times, 27 Sep. 2023

New district lines have forced incumbents to primary each other in Michigan, Georgia and West Virginia. —Arit John, Los Angeles Times, 11 Jan. 2022

In his recent memoir, Hogan claims that members of Trump's cabinet asked him to primary the president. —Tyler Olson, Fox News, 23 Sep. 2020

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English primarye, primary "original, earliest," borrowed from Latin prīmārius "of the highest importance or station (of persons), first-rate, chief" (Late Latin, "original, lying at the beginning," Medieval Latin, "foremost, leading"), from prīmus "first, foremost, earliest, of first importance" + -ārius -ary entry 2 — more at prime entry 2

Noun

in part borrowed from Late Latin prīmārius "person leading, leader," noun derivative of Latin prīmārius "of the highest importance or station, chief, primary entry 1"; in part noun derivative of primary entry 1, or shortened from collocations with the adjective; (sense 5) shortened from primary election, earlier primary assembly, translation of French assemblée primaire

Verb

derivative of primary entry 2

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1656, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1958, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing primary

• direct primary
• pre-primary
• primary atypical pneumonia
• primary care
• primary cell
• primary color
• primary meristem
• primary root
• primary school
• primary source
• primary syphilis
• primary tooth
• primary wall

Kids Definition

primary

1 of 2 adjective

pri·​ma·​ry ˈprī-ˌmer-ē  ˈprīm-(ə-)rē 

1

: first in time or development : initial, primitive

the primary stage of a civilization

2

a

: of first rank, importance, or value

our primary duties

b

: basic entry 1 sense 1, fundamental

the family is the primary unit of human association

c

: of, relating to, or being one of the principal flight feathers of a bird's wing located on the outer joint

d

: of, relating to, or being the strongest of three levels of stress in pronunciation

3

a

: not made or coming from something else : firsthand

a primary source of information

b

: of, relating to, or being the current or circuit that is connected to the source of electricity in an induction coil or transformer

primary

2 of 2 noun

plural primaries

1

: one of the usually nine or ten strong flight feathers on the outer joint of a bird's wing

2

: primary color

3

: an election in which members of a political party nominate candidates for office

4

: the coil that is connected to the source of electricity in an induction coil or transformer

called also primary coil

Medical Definition

primary

1 of 2 adjective

pri·​ma·​ry ˈprī-ˌmer-ē  ˈprīm-(ə-)rē 

1

a(1)

: first in order of time or development

(2)

: relating to or being the milk teeth and especially the 20 milk teeth in the human set

b(1)

: arising spontaneously : idiopathic

primary insomnia

the absence of any pelvic abnormality confirmed the diagnosis of primary dysmenorrhea

(2)

: being an initial tumor or site especially of cancer

efforts to find the primary tumor have failed

—Raphael Feinmesser

c

: providing primary care

a primary physician

2

: not derivable from other colors, odors, or tastes

3

: belonging to the first group or order in successive divisions, combinations, or ramifications

primary nerves

4

: of, relating to, or being the amino acid sequence in proteins

primary protein structure

compare secondary sense 3, tertiary entry 2 sense 2c

5

: resulting from the substitution of one of two or more atoms or groups in a molecule

especially : being or characterized by a carbon atom having a bond to only one other carbon atom

primary

2 of 2 noun

plural primaries

: primary color

Legal Definition

primary

1 of 2 adjective

pri·​ma·​ry ˈprī-ˌmer-ē, -mə-rē 

1

: of first rank, value, or importance

2

: belonging to the first group or order in successive divisions, combinations, or ramifications

primarily

prī-ˈmer-ə-lē 

adverb

primary

2 of 2 noun

plural primaries

1

: caucus

2

: an election in which qualified voters nominate or express a preference for a particular candidate or group of candidates for political office, choose party officials, or select delegates for a party convention