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 Health officials are continuing to search for the source of the outbreak, which has primarily affected the Carnegie Hill and Yorkville neighborhoods. — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 19 July 2026 The airport is used primarily by private and corporate aircraft. — Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 July 2026 Brensley’s campaign tasked Bronske with collecting signatures primarily on the South Shore and Metro South areas, including Weymouth, Hanover, Braintree, Rockland and Easton. — Tim Dunn, Boston Herald, 19 July 2026 Cardinals, wrens, mockingbirds, and bluebirds primarily want a safe place to drink and splash around to clean their feathers. — Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 18 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for primarily

Recent Examples of Synonyms for primarily

Adverb

Police detained Schmidt twice during the altercation, originally placing him into the police vehicle after the officer shot his black Labrador, according to eyewitness Paul Bates.

— Gabe White, Arkansas Online, 21 July 2026
The Space Force originally estimated the Lane 1 launch providers would compete for at least 30 task orders over a five-year period.

— Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 20 July 2026

Definition of originally

Adverb

Up until then, Silbiger had mainly documented the inner workings of Capitol Hill and the White House as a freelance photojournalist in Washington, DC.

— Sarah Silbiger, CNN Money, 25 July 2026
Earlier research works explored this phenomenon mainly in isolated laboratory systems or as a way to deliberately control quantum states.

— Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 25 July 2026

Definition of mainly

Adverb

Hughes’ fall on this list mostly stems from major growth from others above him and the lack of term left on his deal.

— Dom Luszczyszyn, New York Times, 22 July 2026
That case focused mostly on the details of the knife attack itself; the federal one delves more into questions of motive.

— ABC News, ABC News, 22 July 2026

Definition of mostly

Adverb

But Elliot’s best argument is ultimately himself—chiefly, his own vigorous libido, which his workaholic medical-student girlfriend, Minerva (a deader-than-deadpan Charli XCX), has long since lost interest in satiating.

— Justin Chang, New Yorker, 24 July 2026
But this is surely the least fabled World Cup in history, and remembered chiefly for the political tensions shortly before the following year’s outbreak of the Second World War.

— Michael Cox, New York Times, 23 July 2026

Definition of chiefly

Adverb

Once known predominantly for projecting educational installations at museums and aquariums, IMAX spent decades trying to break into the mainstream, though its limited network of theatres and analog-only format proved prohibitive for major studios.

— Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 22 July 2026
So have members of the predominantly Black church where her body was discovered May 8.

— Caitlin McGlade, Charlotte Observer, 22 July 2026

Definition of predominantly

Adverb

As camera adoption has become more widespread in recent years, those concerns have largely faded away, according to Common Council President Sabrina Madison.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 July 2026
What today's affordable new homes offer—and the tradeoffs Where buyers are most likely to find a deal on new construction depends largely on the local market.

— Mike Winters, CNBC, 23 July 2026

Definition of largely

Adverb

Although some of these new institutions may adopt the name college, they won't be architected around classrooms and their business model won't be principally tuition-based.

— Ryan Craig, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
The war within the Republican Party was not principally an ideological war, though.

— Louis Menand, New Yorker, 13 July 2026

Definition of principally

Browse Nearby Words

primal

primarily

primary

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“Primarily.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/primarily. Accessed 27 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of primarily

adverb

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