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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of main
Erin Lassner, HollywoodReporter, 14 Mar. 2026
His main recipients were Duncan Robinson and Duren, who each scored 14 points in the half, as Detroit shot 63% from the floor.
—CBS News, 14 Mar. 2026
Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Feb. 2026
While choice is strictly limited—two starters, two mains, cheese or dessert—the produce is exceptional, from juicy scallops to John Dory cooked with tangy sorrel and crunchy samphire, sea asparagus, accompanied by a seasonal pumpkin purée.
—John Brunton, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for main
Adjective
In additional to Sunday’s main event, all of the weekend’s practice and qualifying rounds are available on-demand at Apple TV’s Formula 1 hub.
—Erin Lassner, HollywoodReporter, 14 Mar. 2026
His main recipients were Duncan Robinson and Duren, who each scored 14 points in the half, as Detroit shot 63% from the floor.
—CBS News, 14 Mar. 2026
Noun
For mains, there is 24-hour coffee braised short rib served with mashed potatoes and also a double smashed wagyu burger.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Feb. 2026
While choice is strictly limited—two starters, two mains, cheese or dessert—the produce is exceptional, from juicy scallops to John Dory cooked with tangy sorrel and crunchy samphire, sea asparagus, accompanied by a seasonal pumpkin purée.
—John Brunton, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for main
Recent Examples of Synonyms for main
Adjective
-
Mesa County Clerk and Colorado Republican candidate for secretary of state Tina Peters reacts to early election returns during a primary night watch party at the Wide Open Saloon on June 28, 2022, in Sedalia, Colorado.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Senior Republicans under pressure from conservative activists and GOP primary challengers are starting to take notice.—
W. James Antle III,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
On Sunday, Iran continued attacks on neighbors, while Israel struck fuel depots in Tehran and threatened the Islamic Republic’s power grid.—
Bloomberg News,
Bloomberg,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Quiet reflection gains power as cerebral Mercury in your 12th House of Solitude trines jovial Jupiter in your comforting 4th house, guiding you through releasing past aches.—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Formula 1 is now the most popular annual sporting series on the planet, pulling a global audience of 750 million—with its fastest-growing contingent being women ages 16 to 24, who fly across continents to watch the action trackside.—
Lale Arikoglu,
Condé Nast Traveler,
8 Mar. 2026
-
The late 1990s buildout of fiber-optic networks, in which companies spent billions to pull dark fiber across continents and under oceans, saw borrowers like WorldCom, Global Crossing, and others go under.—
Amanda Gerut,
Fortune,
7 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The team found a major levoglucosan peak centered around 1128 CE, coinciding with a similar peak recorded from the Schwarzboden mire peat core, another important reservoir of atmospheric history sampled about 12 miles southeast of Weißseespitze.—
Nidhi Sharma,
Popular Science,
13 Mar. 2026
-
That’s just core to my existence and my DNA.—
Claire Salinda,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
While many inside Canada’s national team originally anticipated Davies returning to the national team later this month after the muscle fiber issue, his latest injury has derailed those plans.—
Joshua Kloke,
New York Times,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Texas Tech star Christian Anderson strained a muscle after slipping in his team’s blowout loss to Iowa State on Thursday.—
Eben Novy-Williams,
Sportico.com,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Kharg island terminal, located about 15 miles off the coast of mainland Iran, has long been the country's primary oil export facility, handling around 90% of its crude exports before tankers travel through the Strait of Hormuz.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Filmart heavily promotes its super-connector status – positioning itself as a bridge between the West and East Asian markets including mainland China, Southeast Asia and the rest of Asia.—
Liz Shackleton,
Deadline,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The last of three men linked to the May 2023 slaying of a Little Rock man whose body was found in some bushes has been sentenced to eight years in prison.—
John Lynch,
Arkansas Online,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Brad Marchand and Sam Reinhart did not play Tuesday, with Marchand out long-term and possibly for the rest of the season with the possibility of surgery for a lower-body injury being determined this week.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
And what’s so predominant is the characters are no bigger than the story.—
Angelique Jackson,
Variety,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Dark green is the predominant color in this manicure even though a black shade serves as the base.—
Kara Jillian Brown,
InStyle,
7 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Main.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/main. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.
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