as in basic
of or relating to the simplest facts or theories of a subject
students who do not have even an elementary knowledge of geography
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 elementary
In addition to college expenses, 529 withdrawals can pay for up to $10,000 in annual expenses for tuition at elementary and secondary schools.
—
Liz Weston, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Feb. 2026
Stenvik also said dozens of parents of Columbia Heights elementary schoolers have been taken by federal agents.
—Brian Dakss, CBS News, 4 Feb. 2026
Stenvik cancelled the annual all-district band concert, scheduled for last week, in which players from the elementary, middle, and high schools perform together on one stage.
—Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 31 Jan. 2026
Her stories are well-told, relevant and often searing, detailing an elementary-school teacher’s slight, a hometown swimming-pool reckoning and chauvinism from an Ivy League club.
—Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for elementary
Liz Weston, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Feb. 2026
Stenvik also said dozens of parents of Columbia Heights elementary schoolers have been taken by federal agents.
—Brian Dakss, CBS News, 4 Feb. 2026
Stenvik cancelled the annual all-district band concert, scheduled for last week, in which players from the elementary, middle, and high schools perform together on one stage.
—Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 31 Jan. 2026
Her stories are well-told, relevant and often searing, detailing an elementary-school teacher’s slight, a hometown swimming-pool reckoning and chauvinism from an Ivy League club.
—Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for elementary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elementary
Adjective
-
Second, our basic law includes some rights--like the right to bear arms--phrased more strongly than the federal constitution.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Vast's 2027 mission will follow that same basic pattern, according to NASA.—
Mike Wall,
Space.com,
16 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
First signs of rudimentary Valentine notes began appearing much later, in the 1500s, according to Britannica.—
Kate Perez,
USA Today,
11 Feb. 2026
-
The first is risk detection, which can be solved with more rudimentary machine learning.—
Leo Schwartz,
Fortune,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Register now and use coupon code EARLYBIRD for an introductory discount of 20% off.—
Sarah Jackson,
CNBC,
17 Feb. 2026
-
But until Brady finally — mercifully — took time during his introductory news conference to praise McDermott, the organization seemed to go out of its way to snub the coach who set its win percentage record.—
Tim Graham,
New York Times,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Despite these positive signals, the housing market still faces significant challenges, some analysts said, pointing to a fundamental shortage of housing supply.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Their petition asks the court to review the EPA's recent rollback of fundamental steps taken by United States leaders to curb fossil fuel pollution for most of the last two decades.—
Emily Mae Czachor,
CBS News,
18 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Elementary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elementary. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
