PRIMARILY Synonyms: 67 Similar and Opposite Words

primarily

adverb

prī-ˈmer-ə-lē

Definition of primarily

as in originally

in the beginning the university was primarily an agricultural college when it was founded over two centuries ago

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in mainly

for the most part ketchup is primarily made from tomatoes

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 primarily Keller, a Central Michigan commit, patiently waited his turn behind star Trevor Gibbs and was used primarily as a blocker last year. — Noah Poser, Chicago Tribune, 6 Nov. 2026 Washington is heavily reliant on imports, primarily from South Africa, home to the world’s largest reserves and production. — Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 6 Nov. 2026 The distinction therefore concerns primarily the way clothing is made and sold rather than its quality or prestige. — Alicja Zelazko, Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 Nov. 2026 Motorists will be detoured primarily along Interstates 710 and 110, State Route 103 and Harry Bridges Boulevard. — Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2026 See All Example Sentences for primarily

Recent Examples of Synonyms for primarily

Adverb

This article has been updated since it was originally published to include more information about the company partnership that will revitalize Mizner Park.

— Abigail Hasebroock, Sun Sentinel, 7 Nov. 2026
But there were delays that set back their timetable for opening, including significantly more repair work than originally anticipated.

— Lori Weisberg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Nov. 2026

Definition of originally

Adverb

But for now, the risks are mainly documented in case reports, series, and other anecdotal accounts.

— Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 6 Nov. 2026
In findings published in December 2025, Gartner reported that over 80% of organizations expected to reduce customer-service agent headcount within 18 months, mainly through attrition.

— Hamid Kohan, Forbes.com, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of mainly

Adverb

In the four years since AI first became broadly available as a commercial product, these productivity returns have mostly failed to materialize.

— Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 8 Nov. 2026
What actually happened in 2020 was a massive miseducation campaign by billionaire Ken Griffin who raised the specter that a rise in taxes, mostly on wealthy people, would mean a tax increase for everyone, which was totally untrue.

— Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 8 Nov. 2026

Definition of mostly

Adverb

On an October weekend, his heavy schedule of stops included greeting people at the annual Boll Weevil Fall Festival in Enterprise, a predominantly white city of about 31,000.

— Kim Chandler, Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2026
The district’s Latino electorate is predominantly young, working-class, and migratory – a demographic that historically tracks lower in voter turnout, according to several studies.

— Cindy Carcamo, Christian Science Monitor, 1 Nov. 2026

Definition of predominantly

Adverb

Morningstar analyst Loredana Muharremi told CNBC Wednesday's weakness in European defense stocks was largely sentiment-driven.

— Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 6 Nov. 2026
The durable material is known to attract sea life to areas that are largely void of fish, creating a destination for fishing boats.

— Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 5 Nov. 2026

Definition of largely

Adverb

Ready-to-wear Ready-to-wear, known in French as prêt-à-porter, differs from couture principally in that garments are designed to be produced repeatedly rather than for a single wearer.

— Alicja Zelazko, Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 Nov. 2026
One family had become an institution, while the other remained a collection of individuals connected principally by ownership.

— Walid Chiniara, Forbes.com, 5 Nov. 2026

Definition of principally

Browse Nearby Words

primal

primarily

primary

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Primarily.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/primarily. Accessed 10 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of primarily

adverb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

defer

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

31 Useful Rhetorical Devices

More Commonly Misspelled Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Popular in Wordplay

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes