main 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of mainnext
as in primary
coming before all others in importance this is the main point of the study—everything else is secondary

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

main

2 of 2

noun

ˈmān How to pronounce main (audio)
1
as in power
muscular strength all their might and main could not budge the stalled car

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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

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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

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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
Adjective
The Nazca Lines, ​enormous drawings and ⁠geometric figures etched into desert plains in the south of the country, are one of Peru’s main tourist destinations, attracting approximately ​100,000 annual visitors. — Joe Kottke, NBC news, 2 Aug. 2026 Much of the action centers on Warren Street, a lively main thoroughfare lined with independent boutiques, art galleries, vintage shops, bookstores, cafés, and farm-to-table eateries. — Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 2 Aug. 2026
Noun
Officials are trying to determine which water agency controls the burst main, as a number of different mains intersect in the area. — Joseph Serna, Los Angeles Times, 16 July 2026 Seafood mains rotate seasonally but are always creative and largely GF, and there is a full sushi bar, where many offerings are gluten-free thanks to the use of tamari. — Luke Pyenson, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for main
Recent Examples of Synonyms for main
  1. primary
  2. power
  3. continent
  4. core
  5. predominant
  6. muscle
  7. mainland
  8. body
Adjective
  • The company has committed to investing at least $1 billion to construct one roughly 300,000-square-foot facility, but the campus could expand to include up to five primary buildings, officials have said.
    — Joseph Flaherty, Arkansas Online, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Whether Castillo and Gausman can return to form and help their respective clubs get deep into October will be a primary storyline here the rest of the year.
    — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of primary
Noun
  • Xi came to power after the 2008 protests in Tibet and deadly unrest in Xinjiang, another frontier region of modern China where ethnic minorities have long chafed under Beijing’s rule and witnessed a huge security crackdown.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Ultimately, both sides are jockeying for power after the war, given the unusual uncertainty brought on by the change in the supreme leadership.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of power
Noun
  • The invitation-only regatta, which takes place off the coast of Sardinia every two years, brings Nautor Swan owners from three continents together for a week of thrilling racing.
    — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 4 Aug. 2026
  • In 2015, the EY Women Athletes Business Network and espnW surveyed roughly 400 senior women executives across multiple continents and found that 94% had participated in sport and that 52% of those in C-suite roles had played at university level.
    — Mena Mirhom, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of continent
Noun
  • The core challenge is agents' ability to exploit existing weaknesses at scale, necessitating improved governance and careful permission management.
    — Sandy Carter, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
  • But Cheogyal and his classmates studied the history of Tibetan dynasties, logic, philosophical systems, poetry, linguistics, and astrology – core subjects in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of core
Adjective
  • With predominant compensation associated with clinical performance, the other aspects can gradually mount and lead to burnout.
    — Nishtha Sareen, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
  • The Odyssey is a story set in the Bronze Age, written in the Iron Age, measured by which metal was the predominant metal that went into weapons of war and other kinds of tools.
    — David Frum, The Atlantic, 29 July 2026
Definition of predominant
Noun
  • Males typically have a greater proportion of fast-twitch muscle fibers, improving explosive speed and power.
    — Jon Root OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Their noses and the inside of their ears and their long tongue muscles were delightfully pink, the color of a crayon.
    — Rachel Yoder, New Yorker, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of muscle
Noun
  • The friends returned to the mainland without Wells but had his cellphone.
    — Margaret Baker, Sacbee.com, 31 July 2026
  • The apps located Wells’ phone in different places, with Snapchat showing it on the island and Life360 showing it back on the mainland.
    — Lorena O’Neil, Rolling Stone, 30 July 2026
Definition of mainland
Noun
  • Later on Friday, Infantino said the plan was to strengthen such bodies, not divide world soccer.
    — Dennis Romero, NBC news, 1 Aug. 2026
  • If your body has been asking you in a few ways to slow down (like feeling a cough coming on, or a tiredness that won’t shake off), stop fighting against what your body or heart is trying to tell you.
    — Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of body

Phrases Containing main

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maims
main
mainland
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Cite this Entry

“Main.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/main. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of main for Spanish Speakers

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