as in primary
coming before all others in importance
this is the main point of the study—everything else is secondary
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in power
muscular strength
all their might and main could not budge the stalled car
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in continent
one of the great divisions of land on the globe or the main part of such a division
islanders periodically traveled back to the main for supplies
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in core
the main or greater part of something as distinguished from its subordinate parts
the main of the tree is still healthy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of main
Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 16 Sep. 2025
This cake uses that magical trio of cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg for its main flavoring, but pairs the warm, complex goodness with a tangy, sweet cream cheese glaze for good measure.
—Patricia S York, Southern Living, 16 Sep. 2025
Gloria Casas, Chicago Tribune, 21 Aug. 2025
Five layers of quintessential Mediterranean flavors — hummus, chickpeas, feta, scallion and herbs, and tzatziki — make for a dip ideal for a party or a hearty vegetarian main.
—The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for main
Adjective
One of the campaign’s main goals is to secure $1 billion in federal funding for ALS research over the next three years.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 16 Sep. 2025
This cake uses that magical trio of cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg for its main flavoring, but pairs the warm, complex goodness with a tangy, sweet cream cheese glaze for good measure.
—Patricia S York, Southern Living, 16 Sep. 2025
Noun
When the water level dropped as a result, two village water mains and two sanitary force mains were uncovered.
—Gloria Casas, Chicago Tribune, 21 Aug. 2025
Five layers of quintessential Mediterranean flavors — hummus, chickpeas, feta, scallion and herbs, and tzatziki — make for a dip ideal for a party or a hearty vegetarian main.
—The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for main
Recent Examples of Synonyms for main
Adjective
-
The game’s primary goal is to shed light on the struggles of being forced into a refugee camp.—
Lisa Deaderick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
20 Sep. 2025
-
The reason for the Fed’s tentative steps is its two primary and potentially clashing mandates — maximum sustainable employment and price stability.—
Erik Sherman,
Forbes.com,
20 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
As demand for electricity surged to power more electric devices in homes and Big Tech's boom in data centers, renewable energy has been the go-to source for the cheapest, fastest way to generate more juice.—
Jeff Young,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
-
Meanwhile, global demand for data center capacity could more than triple by 2030, requiring upgrades in power, cooling, and connectivity.—
Maurice Obeid,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Two of cinema’s most imaginative voices came together at the Busan International Film Festival for an intimate conversation about their creative processes, revealing surprising connections between their work despite being separated by continents and cultures.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
20 Sep. 2025
-
Back then, this Amazonian region was part of Gondwana, a massive ancient landmass split into several continents and land areas, including South America.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
19 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Since World War I, the American right has held together as a political movement by prioritizing a conservative vision of white Christian values and private enterprise, while shielding those immutable core principles with expendable public‑facing ideals.—
Allan J. Lichtman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Biglari’s core demands were to stop opening new stores entirely, eliminate the development team to save money, and focus exclusively on improving existing store operations rather than expansion.—
Lily Mae Lazarus,
Fortune,
18 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Advertisement Lee believes a key factor is that Korean society has no predominant religion but a smattering of similarly sized faiths that maintain a balanced following without chafing against each other.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
17 Sep. 2025
-
Should contempt become the predominant way that two partners communicate with one another, one or both will eventually reach a breaking point.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
And there’s also some data to suggest that cold plunges could support muscle recovery and maybe even boost your mood.—
Korin Miller,
SELF,
22 Sep. 2025
-
Today, with faster access to stents, patients often have less heart muscle damage, said Souheil Saba, MD, a cardiologist at Henry Ford Health in Michigan.—
Stephanie Brown,
Verywell Health,
22 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
We are connected to the Spanish mainland via two bridges and a natural isthmus, which has been in use since Roman times.—
Lisa Deaderick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
20 Sep. 2025
-
Strait of Messina Bridge project will speed travel between the Italian mainland and Sicily and incorporate rail connections to Palermo and Catania, which are being upgraded.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
19 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Upon entering the home, the neighbor found Tom’s body — and that of his wife, Margaret — on the living room floor.—
ProPublica,
ProPublica,
22 Sep. 2025
-
There is some small research to suggest that cold plunges may help reduce stress on your cells and make your body more resilient to future stress.—
Korin Miller,
SELF,
22 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Main.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/main. Accessed 23 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share