1
as in mainlands
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in weights
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
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Recent Examples of mains
Dishes range from lobster aguachile or deviled beet eggs to hearty mains like bone marrow short rib pappardelle or shrimp tamales with crispy yuca.
—
Brock Keeling, Oc Register, 6 Mar. 2026
The restaurant’s menu is printed on the back of a record sleeve, with a list of starters mined from special, one-off dinners Garcia and Huerta host monthly called Kamikaze, and mains rooted in their signature tacos, tortas and burritos.
—Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2026
These colorful toast bites can be served appetizer style or alongside your bunch mains.
—Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 4 Mar. 2026
Key improvements include replacement of 1,654 feet of 8-inch water mains and 22 water service connections and 1,700 feet of 6-inch sewer mains and 17 sewer lower laterals.
—Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 4 Mar. 2026
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
Small plates hover in the mid-teens, mains climb into the $30-$40 range and the Sofreh Experience runs $75 per person.
—Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 14 Feb. 2026
Plonk Another Montana original with a decidedly coastal California feel, Plonk is a wine bar that also specializes in creative cocktails and unexpected small plates and mains such as crab rangoon with kimchi and duck confit ravioli.
—Brad Japhe, Travel + Leisure, 10 Feb. 2026
Brock Keeling, Oc Register, 6 Mar. 2026
The restaurant’s menu is printed on the back of a record sleeve, with a list of starters mined from special, one-off dinners Garcia and Huerta host monthly called Kamikaze, and mains rooted in their signature tacos, tortas and burritos.
—Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2026
These colorful toast bites can be served appetizer style or alongside your bunch mains.
—Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 4 Mar. 2026
Key improvements include replacement of 1,654 feet of 8-inch water mains and 22 water service connections and 1,700 feet of 6-inch sewer mains and 17 sewer lower laterals.
—Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 4 Mar. 2026
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
Small plates hover in the mid-teens, mains climb into the $30-$40 range and the Sofreh Experience runs $75 per person.
—Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 14 Feb. 2026
Plonk Another Montana original with a decidedly coastal California feel, Plonk is a wine bar that also specializes in creative cocktails and unexpected small plates and mains such as crab rangoon with kimchi and duck confit ravioli.
—Brad Japhe, Travel + Leisure, 10 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mains
Noun
-
The two mainlands themselves are only 55 miles apart where Alaska's Seward Peninsula and Russia's Chukotka Peninsula sit on opposite sides of the Bering Sea.—
Trevor Hughes,
USA Today,
15 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Economists said the tame core CPI readings were unlikely to translate into moderate core PCE inflation gains in February because of different weights and unexpected strength in services prices in the January Producer Price Index report.—
Reuters
Wire Service,
Dallas Morning News,
11 Mar. 2026
-
So pushing with my back foot, all my weights on my front foot.—
Outside Online,
Outside Online,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Alyssa Ramos’ evacuation from Kuwait involved a 48-hour journey across four continents.—
Hallie Golden,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
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From the steamy streets of Carnival in the late 1970s to the 18th century Arctic tundra and an eerily familiar, fictionalized version of present-day America, this year’s nominees span decades, genres, continents and cultures.—
Claire Malon,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The key innovation in this motor lies in the use of amorphous steel, a material that differs from conventional electrical steels commonly used in motor cores.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Instead, those urban cores are left to cope with the church’s growing absence.—
David Swanson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
7 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
By combining the guidance kit with different bomb bodies, militaries can create several JDAM variants with different payloads and effects.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Mar. 2026
-
The revolving door of available bodies on a nightly basis caused by injuries will allow Dallas to get a good look at Poulakidas, an undrafted guard who attended Yale, and Smith, a second-year forward from Houston.—
Mike Curtis,
Dallas Morning News,
7 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
In addition, wartime food security concerns could spark some countries to stock up on staples like wheat.—
Hallie Gu,
Bloomberg,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Shop more of my mom’s favorites on Amazon and refresh your staples ahead of spring.—
Annie Blackman,
InStyle,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Film festival chiefs from around the world have signed a joint statement in support of Berlin Film Festival boss Tricia Tuttle, whose future will be debated at a meeting of its governing body tomorrow in Berlin.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Everyone—from bankers to studio chiefs—will keep guessing what counts as market power when the biggest player in streaming never had to test its limits in court.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
28 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Getz agrees, describing essences as the foundation of proper hydration.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Korean scalp treatments often come in lightweight, fast-absorbing liquids, essences, or refreshing tonics designed to be massaged directly into the scalp without leaving hair greasy or weighed down.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
24 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mains. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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