1
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
2
3
as in chief
highest in rank or authority
the movie's primary screenwriter
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
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
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Recent Examples of primary
They will be required to start recording the boxes on the first day absentee ballots are issued for an election or primary and continue recording until the town clerk retrieves the last ballots.
—
Gabby Debenedictis, Hartford Courant, 17 June 2025
The major-party candidates in the race for governor are already set; neither faced a serious primary challenge.
—Margaret Barthel, NPR, 17 June 2025
Turnout is off to a strong start in this month’s city primary elections, as nearly 100,000 New Yorkers have cast ballots during the first three days of early voting — more than doubling the levels from the 2021 cycle.
—Chris Sommerfeldt, New York Daily News, 16 June 2025
The company formed as a partnership between Boeing and Lockheed Martin in 2006 and had been the primary launch provider for national security missions until SpaceX joined the competition.
—Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for primary
Gabby Debenedictis, Hartford Courant, 17 June 2025
The major-party candidates in the race for governor are already set; neither faced a serious primary challenge.
—Margaret Barthel, NPR, 17 June 2025
Turnout is off to a strong start in this month’s city primary elections, as nearly 100,000 New Yorkers have cast ballots during the first three days of early voting — more than doubling the levels from the 2021 cycle.
—Chris Sommerfeldt, New York Daily News, 16 June 2025
The company formed as a partnership between Boeing and Lockheed Martin in 2006 and had been the primary launch provider for national security missions until SpaceX joined the competition.
—Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for primary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for primary
Adjective
-
Israel hit Iran’s main enrichment site at Natanz, its leading nuclear scientists, and struck the heart of its ballistic missile program, Netanyahu said.—
Spencer Kimball,Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
13 June 2025
-
While the official investigation is still underway, early video and expert reviews have pointed to a few main theories.—
Jesus Mesa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 June 2025
Adjective
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The arrests sparked immediate backlash, with demonstrators converging outside federal buildings, blocking freeways, and in some cases clashing with police.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
11 June 2025
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As a result, many DeFi initiatives remain anchored in offshore structures that allow for innovation without immediate regulatory friction.—
Irina Heaver,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
Adjective
-
Brown joined the pro-Cuomo PAC, Fix the City, as its chief operating officer upon its launch in late February, weeks after resigning from Adams’ administration.—
Chris Sommerfeldt,
New York Daily News,
13 June 2025
-
Clauson-Kaas is chief consultant for the Copenhagen waterworks utility HOFOR, which is overseeing the construction of the tunnel.—
Rob Schmitz,
NPR,
13 June 2025
Adjective
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The proposals come a year after University of North Carolina trustees approved an audit of the athletics department after a preliminary budget projected about $100 million of debt in the years ahead.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
17 June 2025
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While beneficial for many taxpayers, CNBC reports that the Senate Finance Committee has provided preliminary versions of some items in their version of the bill, including one that would keep the SALT deduction at $10,000.—
Nathan Goldman,
Forbes.com,
17 June 2025
Adjective
-
The unpredictability of international trade can delay spending, hiring, and strategic initiatives—direct consequences of the financial strain tariffs can impose.—
Vinay Goel,
Forbes.com,
16 June 2025
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The unprecedented firing of the entire Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. poses a direct threat to American health.—
Tom Frieden,
Time,
16 June 2025
Adjective
-
Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders.—
Sindhu Bhaskar,
Forbes.com,
17 June 2025
-
Lindell was one of the foremost conspiracy theorists in pushing claims that the election was stolen from Donald Trump.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
16 June 2025
Adjective
-
In two rooms upstairs, there were hundreds of works: from art-school sketches and preparatory crayon drawings to large-scale, fully realized paintings that had taken Orlik months to complete.—
Sam Knight,
New Yorker,
17 June 2025
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That makes the Gold Cup, a three-week tournament with group play and a single-elimination knockout stage, an important preparatory test for the three hosts even if the field is less than stellar.—
Kevin Baxter,
Los Angeles Times,
10 June 2025
Adjective
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The June 10 vote by the nation’s largest Protestant denomination represents a doubling down on issues of gender and sexuality as the predominant group of evangelical Christians signals the SBC’s hopes of replicating the successful campaign to overturn Roe v. Wade.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
12 June 2025
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The predominant toxin associated with FHB infections in the United States is deoxynivalenol (DON), which is also known as vomitoxin because consumption can cause vomiting.—
Rebekah Riess,
CNN Money,
4 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Primary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/primary. Accessed 24 Jun. 2025.
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