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 Roughly 70% of public companies still operate primarily this way. — Steve Denning, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2026 Cole Martin, who primarily played safety for UCLA last season, slid down to defend the slot, while Malik Hartford played behind him. — Aaron Heisen, Daily News, 8 Aug. 2026 The condition encompasses a group of brain disorders primarily affecting the frontal and temporal lobes, areas associated with personality, behavior and language. — Charlie Carballo, USA Today, 8 Aug. 2026 It’s primarily remembered for both introducing the world to James Gunn, who wrote the script and served as associate director. — Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 8 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for primarily

Recent Examples of Synonyms for primarily

Adverb

The case, which was originally filed in 2020, was settled later in 2023 by the client working with his new lawyer.

— Rafael Olmeda, Sun Sentinel, 3 Aug. 2026
But economists originally developed the production possibilities frontier to describe the choices facing entire economies.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of originally

Adverb

The show, the first ever to be mainly in Spanish, would end up courting significant conservative backlash, to the point that Kid Rock and Turning Point USA elected to put on their own alternative halftime show.

— Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 8 Aug. 2026
Previously they were used mainly for breaching, blasting doors open, but demand has surged.

— David Hambling, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of mainly

Adverb

In the neighborhood, which is actually the oldest part of Prague, there are mostly residential buildings, embassies, and local offices.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Aug. 2026
Many skeptics see a contradiction in high-achieving, mostly white young voters employing rhetoric about labor and solidarity.

— Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of mostly

Adverb

Rochlin, who used to work in mosquito control, pointed out that his predecessors in New York were chiefly concerned with malaria.

— Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 3 Aug. 2026
Building a network is capital intensive, requiring continuous, steady investment in both towers and spectrum —- drawing capital away from businesses that investors more richly reward, chiefly AI.

— Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 29 July 2026

Definition of chiefly

Adverb

Lake was also the only Black woman in a field of exclusively male, predominantly white candidates for the county’s top seat.

— Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 5 Aug. 2026
Their active roster is predominantly right-handed, which clogs up some of the lineup decisions for Roberts.

— Katie Woo, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of predominantly

Adverb

The Frenchman scored more league goals than any other Liverpool player last season, but that was largely with Isak on the sidelines.

— Graham Ruthven, New York Times, 7 Aug. 2026
Friday’s report will likely underscore that the job market remains stable but in a low-flow state, with non-healthcare hiring a little sluggish and the unemployment rate largely unchanged.

— Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of largely

Adverb

Medicaid Fraud Control Units were principally responsible for investigating providers, while also prosecuting the abuse and neglect of patients whose care was billed to Medicaid.

— Ben Zdencanovic, The Conversation, 3 Aug. 2026
Back in those early days there was talk of Newcastle winning the Premier League in the next five to 10 years, principally from the mouth of Amanda Staveley, a 10 per cent minority partner of PIF who sold her stake and left Tyneside in July 2024.

— Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2026

Definition of principally

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primal

primarily

primary

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“Primarily.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/primarily. Accessed 11 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of primarily

adverb

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