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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of elementary
Students from elementary grades through college submitted 203 designs, showing off a huge range of talent, design skill and appreciation for county landmarks and communities.
—
Sal Pizarro, Mercury News, 28 May 2026
Because algorithmic authority has begun to overpower critical thinking and, at times, even the most elementary forms of common sense.
—Hamilton Mann, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026
This would be required for elementary, junior and senior high schools.
—Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 May 2026
Students at Drew Charter School are getting an early start in journalism through the school's student-run news station, WDCS, where elementary students write scripts, operate cameras, and anchor live broadcasts.
—Alexa Liacko, CBS News, 20 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for elementary
Sal Pizarro, Mercury News, 28 May 2026
Because algorithmic authority has begun to overpower critical thinking and, at times, even the most elementary forms of common sense.
—Hamilton Mann, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026
This would be required for elementary, junior and senior high schools.
—Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 May 2026
Students at Drew Charter School are getting an early start in journalism through the school's student-run news station, WDCS, where elementary students write scripts, operate cameras, and anchor live broadcasts.
—Alexa Liacko, CBS News, 20 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for elementary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elementary
Adjective
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When asked for basic tips on booking a flight, Potter had two answers.—
Ross Raihala,
Twin Cities,
31 May 2026
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Users just need to tap the screen to monitor connection status in real time, switch VPN profiles, share Wi-Fi via a QR code and complete basic network configuration tasks.—
Mark Sparrow,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
Adjective
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Together, the findings in chimpanzees and bonobos suggest a rudimentary form of syntax, the rules that govern word order in human language and give it flexibility and creativity.—
Katie Hunt,
CNN Money,
3 June 2026
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But those tells generally show up only in Claude’s most rudimentary outputs.—
Jay Caspian Kang,
New Yorker,
2 June 2026
Adjective
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The California Democrat was so unfamiliar to the incoming president that Biden badly mispronounced his name at an introductory news conference.—
Dan Diamond,
Washington Post,
31 May 2026
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Locke’s children’s book is an introductory lesson about gender-inclusive pronouns.—
Carly Tagen-Dye,
PEOPLE,
28 May 2026
Adjective
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His concept of the collective unconscious, a universal element of the human mind connecting past and present, was fundamental to her understanding of images and the interconnected nature of ancient archetypes.—
Eliza Goodpasture,
ARTnews.com,
3 June 2026
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The appointment arrives just ahead of the United Nations' International Day of Play on June 11, which highlights the importance of play as a fundamental right for children.—
Brittany Talarico,
PEOPLE,
3 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Elementary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elementary. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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