PRIMARY Synonyms: 155 Similar and Opposite Words

primary

adjective

ˈprī-ˌmer-ē

Definition of primary

as in main

coming before all others in importance the primary concern for many house hunters is the asking price

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in direct

done or working without something else coming in between a crop failure that was the primary cause of the famine

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in chief

highest in rank or authority the movie's primary screenwriter

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in preliminary

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 & 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 primary Isar is in the early stages of developing a second launch site in Canada, and the company may eventually base launches from Kourou, French Guiana, home to Europe’s primary spaceport on the northeastern coast of South America. — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 6 Sep. 2026 In many cases, the person taken was the family’s primary breadwinner. — Laura Rodríguez Presa, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2026 Bowyer acknowledged that Turning Point Action’s growing infrastructure in early primary states could cause some agitation on the right if it is seen as throwing its weight behind one candidate. — Hannah Fingerhut, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2026 In Lihue, a town of 8,000 with Kauai’s primary airport, residents were stocking up on food and water as supermarket shelves emptied. — ABC News, 6 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for primary

Recent Examples of Synonyms for primary

Adjective

Rhodes owes Orton another lick after getting punted in the head following their WrestleMania 42 Night 1 main event brawl.

— Ryan Gaydos OutKick, FOXNews.com, 6 Sep. 2026
Spectrum’s second flight began with ignition of the rocket’s nine Aquila main engines, burning a mixture of propane and liquid oxygen propellants to generate more than 150,000 pounds (675 kilonewtons) of thrust.

— Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of main

Adjective

Such direct communication with fans is now taking place on a semi-regular basis.

— Chris Waugh, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
What’s in the demo Children of Infinity is a space adventure RPG, just like The Ur-Quan Masters (and its direct spiritual predecessors, Starflight and Starflight 2).

— Lee Hutchinson, ArsTechnica, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of direct

Adjective

He was named chief operating officer and relocated to the company’s global headquarters in New York in 2017.

— Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 9 Sep. 2026
Emails sent this year by CPSC chief data officer Elizabeth Puchek said hospitals would need to apply for an exemption from participation or face penalties.

— CNN Money, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of chief

Adjective

Scrutiny of the project would later intensify after preliminary designs were released late last year.

— Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 9 Sep. 2026
But Huby’s bigger passion has always been human spaceflight, and her company has begun preliminary work on a crew spacecraft that could serve either the International Space Station or private space stations under development by US companies.

— Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of preliminary

Adjective

So the Fed's predominant focus right now should be on prices.

— Scott Horsley, NPR, 28 Aug. 2026
Environmental samples collected from the market, specifically in areas where wildlife sales were predominant, contained SARS-CoV-2 genetic material.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of predominant

Adjective

McDermott’s successor, Joe Brady, takes on an immediate Super Bowl mandate for a franchise that’s been so close so often.

— Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
My feeling was that a monologue could seem immediate, more enjoyable and readable than a straightforward play with multiple characters, additional stage directions, etc.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of immediate

Adjective

Iran’s foremost vulnerability to sanctions and the blockade remains its persistent need for imports, which totaled $17 billion in the first five months of this Iranian calendar year beginning in March.

— Esfandyar Batmanghelidj, Foreign Affairs, 8 Sep. 2026
Asked about their firm’s primary hurdle in managing the current trade landscape, the vast majority (57 percent) said policy uncertainty, like tariffs changing with little notice, as their foremost challenge.

— Kate Nishimura, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of foremost

Adjective

In his case, this is mainly evident during the preparatory stage.

— Leo Barraclough, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026
Baniewicz was hired by Bishop Miege in 2023 after serving nearly 14 years as president of Maur Hill-Mount Academy, a college preparatory boarding school in Atchison.

— Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 20 Aug. 2026