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primary

adjective

Synonyms and Antonyms of primary

1 coming before all others in importance

  • the primary concern for many house hunters is the asking price
Synonyms of primary

arch, big, capital, cardinal, central, chief, dominant, first, foremost, grand, great, greatest, highest, key, leading, main, master, number one (also No. 1), numero uno, overbearing, overmastering, overriding, paramount, predominant, preeminent, premier, primal, principal, prior, sovereign (also sovran), supreme
Words Related to primary

distinguished, eminent, illustrious, noble, notable, noteworthy, outstanding, prestigious, signal, star, stellar, superior

high-level, senior, top

important, influential, major, mighty, momentous, significant

incomparable, matchless, unequaled (or unequalled), unparalleled, unsurpassed

celebrated, famed, famous, renowned
Near Antonyms of primary

inconsequential, inconsiderable, insignificant, minor, negligible, slight, trifling, trivial, unimportant

collateral, inferior, secondary, subordinate, subsidiary
Antonyms of primary

last, least

2 done or working without something else coming in between

  • a crop failure that was the primary cause of the famine
Synonyms of primary

direct, firsthand, immediate, unmediated
Words Related to primary

clinical, empirical (also empiric)

efficient, proximate

hands-on
Antonyms of primary

indirect, secondhand

3 highest in rank or authority

  • the movieʼs primary screenwriter
Synonyms of primary

chief, commanding, first, foremost, head, high, lead, leading, preeminent, premier, presiding, prime, principal, supereminent, supreme, top
Words Related to primary

high-level, senior

controlling, directing, managing, officiating, overseeing, regnant, reigning, ruling, supervisory

main, major, paramount, predominant, predominate, sovereign (also sovran)

ascendant (also ascendent), dominant, grand, superior, topmost, upmost, upper, uppermost
Phrases Synonymous with primary

in charge
Near Antonyms of primary

ancillary, inferior, last, less, lesser, lower, lowly, second, secondary, subordinate, subsidiary

assistant, assisting, coadjutor, deputy, junior, under

4 coming before the main part or item usually to introduce or prepare for what follows

  • a few minutes of primary instruction in the use of our diving gear before we actually got into the water
Synonyms of primary

beginning, introductory, precursory, prefatory, prelim, preliminary, prelusive, preparative, preparatory
Words Related to primary

introducing, prefacing, preparing, readying

premonitory, warning

basic, elementary, fundamental

ahead, early, former, preceding, previous, prior
Near Antonyms of primary

after, behind, following, subsequent

Learn More about primary

  1. See words that rhyme with primary Dictionary: Definition of primary Medical Dictionary: Definition of primary Spanish Central: Translation of primary Nglish: Translation of primary for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of primary for Arabic speakers

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