1
as in main
coming before all others in importance
the primary concern for many house hunters is the asking price
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
3
as in chief
highest in rank or authority
the movie's primary screenwriter
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in preliminary
coming before the main part or item usually to introduce or prepare for what follows
a few minutes of primary instruction in the use of our diving gear before we actually got into the water
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of primary
Company officials state that the primary obstacle to fusion energy is no longer validating the underlying science, but establishing scalable industrial manufacturing.
—
Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 11 June 2026
California Democrats advanced from last week’s primary election in all five House districts targeted by last year’s redistricting measure.
—Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026
After overcoming a primary challenge from California Governor Ronald Reagan, Ford narrowly lost re-election to Jimmy Carter, probably because of 1his brave Pardon of Richard Nixon.
—New York Times, 11 June 2026
Lisa Wrightsman, managing director for the nonprofit’s Sacramento chapter, said encouraging people to join the soccer community is Street Soccer’s primary goal throughout the World Cup.
—Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 11 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for primary
Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 11 June 2026
California Democrats advanced from last week’s primary election in all five House districts targeted by last year’s redistricting measure.
—Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026
After overcoming a primary challenge from California Governor Ronald Reagan, Ford narrowly lost re-election to Jimmy Carter, probably because of 1his brave Pardon of Richard Nixon.
—New York Times, 11 June 2026
Lisa Wrightsman, managing director for the nonprofit’s Sacramento chapter, said encouraging people to join the soccer community is Street Soccer’s primary goal throughout the World Cup.
—Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 11 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for primary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for primary
Adjective
-
The school plans to consolidate the store with its main location in the Student Union Building on campus.—
Angela Palermo,
Idaho Statesman,
10 Dec. 2025
-
There, the six cast members who portray the two main characters sat down for an interview.—
Dillon Thomas,
CBS News,
10 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
The resort offers direct access to Treasure Island Beach, along with miles of hiking and biking trails in nearby Wood Canyons Wilderness Park and Crystal Cove State Park.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 June 2026
-
Talanoa Ili, a top-100 recruit in the Trojans’ vaunted 2026 class, joins Stanford quarterback Charlie Mirer as one of two lead plaintiffs in a class-action lawsuit that takes aim at the system implemented since the settlement ushered in a new era of direct payment from universities to athletes.—
Ryan Kartje,
Los Angeles Times,
10 June 2026
Adjective
-
Cultus Lake Waterpark's chief administrative officer, Andrew Steunenberg, reportedly said those injured were not in the water or on any rides at the time of the incident.—
Natalia Senanayake,
PEOPLE,
16 June 2026
-
Anna Marsh, the CEO of StudioCanal and chief content officer of Canal+, lauded the creative team including Friedman and Lumley.—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
16 June 2026
Adjective
-
The National Weather Service said tornadoes had been confirmed in mostly rural areas southwest of Chicago, with some preliminary reports of buildings damaged in Streator, a manufacturing and farm city about 100 miles away.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
12 June 2026
-
This was a preliminary, phase one clinical trial, so there was still a long way to go to confirm that this approach really could achieve what its inventors hoped—stopping an invader dead in its tracks.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
Adjective
-
What to do nearby While the lakefront vistas alone warrant a stay, the predominant incentive to visit Idlwilde is to experience its surroundings.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 May 2026
-
The original style of most sauces is spicy-sweet with molasses, ketchup, and hickory flavors being the predominant notes.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
26 May 2026
Adjective
-
Whoever wins the nomination will face an immediate campaign finance gap and depend heavily on national GOP resources.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 June 2026
-
Sadly, Trump’s inability to forgo immediate fulfillment is as pronounced an aspect of his personality as his megalomania.—
Jonathan Chait,
The Atlantic,
16 June 2026
Adjective
-
Construction began in 2006 after a competition that attracted some of the world’s foremost architectural firms and months of debate over whether to rebuild where thousands were killed in the 9/11 attacks.—
USA TODAY Network,
USA Today,
10 June 2026
-
Sheku’s universal appeal, which reaches far beyond traditional classical audiences, combined with his credibility as one of the world’s foremost cellists, makes this a unique acquisition for us.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
9 June 2026
Adjective
-
This includes increasing college preparatory course availability at high schools, making financial aid systems easier to navigate, and recruiting and retaining Asian American and Pacific Islander faculty members.—
Tarini Mehta,
Sacbee.com,
8 June 2026
-
When interview invitations arrive, candidates have already done the reflective and preparatory work that helps make those conversations productive instead of reactive.—
Lyssanoel Frater,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Primary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/primary. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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