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
Alisha Miranda, Bon Appetit Magazine, 30 July 2025
Established in 2001, ASU-Newport is a two-year community college that serves roughly 4,200 students annually through its main campus in Newport, as well as satellite campuses in Jonesboro and Marked Tree.
—Ryan Anderson, Arkansas Online, 30 July 2025
Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 14 June 2025
Look for fiber-rich additions to supplement your high-protein main, like a fruit or veggie side (especially if your main doesn’t pack much fiber on its own).
—Caroline Tien, SELF, 19 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for main
Adjective
The accolades are appreciated, but one of Branca’s main goals with evolving Kampar into a bi-level, multi-concept restaurant and chef residency program is to guide emerging talent through the murky industry.
—Alisha Miranda, Bon Appetit Magazine, 30 July 2025
Established in 2001, ASU-Newport is a two-year community college that serves roughly 4,200 students annually through its main campus in Newport, as well as satellite campuses in Jonesboro and Marked Tree.
—Ryan Anderson, Arkansas Online, 30 July 2025
Noun
The last of summer's fresh produce is on display in the cobblers and sides, and tailgating season's beloved barbecue mains and sides headline the show.
—Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 14 June 2025
Look for fiber-rich additions to supplement your high-protein main, like a fruit or veggie side (especially if your main doesn’t pack much fiber on its own).
—Caroline Tien, SELF, 19 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for main
Recent Examples of Synonyms for main
Adjective
-
The statute makes clear that unlike ICE and Customs and Border Protection, USCIS’s primary mission is adjudication and processing of applications, not enforcement.—
Stuart Anderson,
Forbes.com,
4 Aug. 2025
-
Mamdani also attacked Cuomo’s reliance on wealthy donors, including some who support President Trump, during the primary race.—
Josephine Stratman,
New York Daily News,
4 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Part of the reason for this gap between power users and typical users is the route by which students have become aware of ChatGPT.—
Ray Ravaglia,
Forbes.com,
30 July 2025
-
The storms also caused widespread power outages across the region.—
Keith Matheny,
Freep.com,
30 July 2025
Noun
-
The influx of top African talents such as Kanu, Kolo Toure, Lauren and Emmanuel Adebayor helped Arsenal’s presence grow on that particular continent around the turn of the century.—
Art de Roché,
New York Times,
31 July 2025
-
It is been just an incredible decade, culminating in this moment, from the technical collaborations, the cultural understandings, getting to know each other, building that team across continents, across time zones.—
Mike Wall,
Space.com,
30 July 2025
Noun
-
The shocker is a plot of earth’s temperature, obtained from ice cores and lake sediments, tracks minima and maxima of the sunspot plot at six different times between 1600 and 2000.—
Ian Dexter Palmer,
Forbes.com,
4 Aug. 2025
-
If Coleman, Johnson and Manning form the core, Olugbode and Loyd are emerging as the most likely candidates to round out the rotation — and possibly push for larger roles as the season unfolds.—
Zach Sweet,
Kansas City Star,
3 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Where in the past the predominant parties would at least pay lip service by either demanding higher taxes or lower spending, that appears to be out the window in DC these days.—
Michael Khouw,
CNBC,
24 July 2025
-
Your predominant dosha—whether vata, pitta, or kapha—affects everything from your personality to your sleep tendencies.—
Anjana Rajbhandary,
Outside Online,
20 July 2025
Noun
-
This generates an almost perfect marbling between meat and fat and a soft muscle, which makes for tasty and tender meat.—
Liza B. Zimmerman,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
-
Isolation exercises target one joint at a time and enhance your muscles' appearance.—
Aubrey Bailey,
Verywell Health,
14 July 2025
Noun
-
The drama kicks off when one of the young islanders journeys to the mainland, where uncomfortable truths lie in wait.—
Billie Melissa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Aug. 2025
-
The street is named for developer John Collins, who helped build up Miami Beach and connect it to the mainland.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
30 July 2025
Noun
-
Despite the number of fouls she's drawn and the physical beating Clark's body has taken this season, Englebert applauded the Iowa alum for how she's taken everything in stride.—
Michael Gallagher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 Aug. 2025
-
More body parts that were later found to belong to Robinson began turning up elsewhere in the days and weeks that followed in the Milwaukee area and washed up on the shores of Lake Michigan in Waukegan, Illinois.—
Chris Ramirez,
jsonline.com,
1 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Main.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/main. Accessed 7 Aug. 2025.
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