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
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Recent Examples of main
Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 3 May 2025
This was actually a main feature of the game, until Wolves doubled up on Doku for the second half: before the break, the Belgian was always free to receive the ball wide and in space on the left, meaning Wolves full-back Nelson Semedo had to rush out to him.
—Sam Lee, New York Times, 3 May 2025
Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 10 Apr. 2025
Kids eat free on Tuesdays, a free bottle of wine accompanies two entrees on Wednesdays and two drinks, two mains and a dessert run customers $85 on date night Thursdays.
—Benjy Egel, Sacbee.com, 2 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for main
Adjective
But Reese’s main source of pride from her time at LSU is less tangible.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 3 May 2025
This was actually a main feature of the game, until Wolves doubled up on Doku for the second half: before the break, the Belgian was always free to receive the ball wide and in space on the left, meaning Wolves full-back Nelson Semedo had to rush out to him.
—Sam Lee, New York Times, 3 May 2025
Noun
The Cannes Film Festival expects robust attendance — especially compared to the strike and pandemic editions — as the Côte d’Azur’s main of event of cinema is once again the starting point of awards season.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 10 Apr. 2025
Kids eat free on Tuesdays, a free bottle of wine accompanies two entrees on Wednesdays and two drinks, two mains and a dessert run customers $85 on date night Thursdays.
—Benjy Egel, Sacbee.com, 2 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for main
Recent Examples of Synonyms for main
Adjective
-
Training the model may have involved over 20,000 high-end GPUs working in concert—an expense few organizations besides OpenAI and its primary backer, Microsoft, could afford.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
30 Apr. 2025
-
Amazon Prime Video debuted as a primary sponsor for his No. 9 team at Talladega.—
Joseph Wolkin,
Forbes.com,
30 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The show explores themes of power, identity and culture in Harlem.—
Christopher Claxton,
Billboard,
5 May 2025
-
Bucharest Reuters — Romanians voted on Sunday in the first round of a presidential election that could propel hard-right eurosceptic George Simion to power in a ballot that will test the rise of Donald Trump-style nationalism in the European Union.—
Reuters,
CNN Money,
4 May 2025
Noun
-
President Trump, Vice President Vance React to First American Pope Announcement World leaders across continents extended messages of hope, unity and spiritual solidarity Thursday after Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected Pope Leo XIV.—
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 May 2025
-
The cardinals come from 71 countries across five continents, according to Vatican News, and 108 of the 135 cardinals were appointed by Pope Francis.—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
7 May 2025
Noun
-
Following the faith’s core beliefs in nonviolence and justice, Quakers have demonstrated for the abolition of slavery, in favor of the suffrage movement, against both World Wars, and the U.S. roles in the wars in Vietnam and Afghanistan, said Ross Brubeck, 38, one of the Quaker march organizers.—
Luis Andres Henao,
Los Angeles Times,
11 May 2025
-
The Ultimate 2025 Horoscope Predictions for Each Zodiac Sign, According to a Celebrity Astrologer Aries (March 20-April 19) The week ahead is bringing a lot of attention to your core relationships, Aries.—
Kyle Thomas,
People.com,
11 May 2025
Adjective
-
So the predominant number of that 3,500 is from the Civil War.—
Stephen Humphries,
Christian Science Monitor,
30 Apr. 2025
-
Schiava was for a long while the predominant grape of AA, yet it was not held in high regard.—
John Mariani,
Forbes.com,
24 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Beyond injuries, deterioration in the muscles that support the knees can also cause problems.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
2 May 2025
-
Scientists shocked the water around their research boat, which tensed the muscles of all the fish within a four-foot radius of the boat.—
Asher Redd,
FOXNews.com,
2 May 2025
Noun
-
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index rose 0.37% while mainland China’s CSI 300 added 0.56% to close at 3,852.90.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
7 May 2025
-
Food and water had to be brought in from the mainland.—
Scott Neuman,
NPR,
7 May 2025
Noun
-
The only part of her body that could move was her tail, which slightly wagged in anticipation of getting saved by her owner.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 May 2025
-
Lori Leonard's body was discovered in a metal toolbox found in the Lake Champlain Canal.—
Chris Young Ritzen,
CBS News,
9 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Main.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/main. Accessed 14 May. 2025.
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