1
as in chief
highest in rank or authority
the prime strategist in the senator's presidential campaign
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in excellent
of the very best kind
owns a thousand acres of prime farmland
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in bloom
a state or time of great activity, thriving, or achievement
in the prime of her life
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in best
individuals carefully selected as being the best of a class
chose the prime of the litter of pups
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to ground
Related Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of prime
Beth Luberecki, USA Today, 17 Feb. 2026
There were openings of numerous freestanding Orveda stores in prime locations, including in Paris, New York and Shanghai.
—Kathryn Hopkins, Footwear News, 17 Feb. 2026
Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 16 Feb. 2026
The Academy, in its prime, expanded to three screens, and the programming both mirrored and fostered an impassioned new interest in foreign films.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 16 Feb. 2026
Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 23 Oct. 2025
These brief contrasts can prime the body and mind so the main effort feels less like a threat and more like progress.
—Dayanne S. Antonio, The Conversation, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prime
Adjective
The new Zemi Miches Punta Cana All-Inclusive Resort, Curio Collection by Hilton offers a water park, kids club, state-of-the-art fitness center and juice bar, and a prime location in an up-and-coming region of the Dominican Republic.
—Beth Luberecki, USA Today, 17 Feb. 2026
There were openings of numerous freestanding Orveda stores in prime locations, including in Paris, New York and Shanghai.
—Kathryn Hopkins, Footwear News, 17 Feb. 2026
Noun
Perhaps the only thing more astounding than a 16-year-old quitting at the prime of her career is a woman who took three years off returning as if no time had passed.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 16 Feb. 2026
The Academy, in its prime, expanded to three screens, and the programming both mirrored and fostered an impassioned new interest in foreign films.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 16 Feb. 2026
Verb
More intense rainfall events from storms of all kinds are becoming more likely as warming temperatures prime the atmosphere to hold more water vapor.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 23 Oct. 2025
These brief contrasts can prime the body and mind so the main effort feels less like a threat and more like progress.
—Dayanne S. Antonio, The Conversation, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prime
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prime
Adjective
-
Patrick Duffy Murphy, chief clerk of the Minnesota House, put a bouquet of roses on Melissa Hortman's desk at the State Capitol hours after she was killed.—
WCCO Staff,
CBS News,
17 Feb. 2026
-
The Army claimed McCarthy and Cohn, his chief counsel, had pressured the Army to give preferential treatment to David Schine, a McCarthy aide with whom Cohn was infatuated.—
Kristen Monroe,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
There’s also bubbles (the champagne by the glass selection is excellent) and raclette cart service.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
20 Feb. 2026
-
The regular season is different from the playoffs, but surely Detroit is champing at the bit to get a rematch of last year’s excellent first-round matchup with the Knicks this postseason.—
James L. Edwards III,
New York Times,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Cutting green stems back to a second node has a 50% chance of triggering more blooms.—
Leanne Potts,
Better Homes & Gardens,
15 Feb. 2026
-
But some vegetables, flowers, and other plants require planting seasons such as mid-spring, early summer, late summer, or fall (usually for spring blooms and harvests), depending on your zone.—
David Beaulieu,
The Spruce,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
And if your fourth line is Horvat between Brad Marchand and Sam Reinhart, with Bennett — the Conn Smythe Trophy winner last spring — as the 13th forward sprinkled in with some shifts, well, that’s a new definition of depth at best-on-best.—
Pierre LeBrun,
New York Times,
12 Feb. 2026
-
The two most notable team stats were points in the paint, where the Aztecs scored 52 points; and turnovers, where the visitors committed six while forcing 22, both season bests.—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
This experience grounds my approach in practicality, accountability, and real world outcomes rather than theory alone.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Lee Yi-shan has a unique ability to ground the supernatural in the emotional reality of her characters.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
14 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Suites with interconnecting doors across the balcony are a great choice for larger families, and most regular activities include child-friendly options, like the beginner’s surfing classes in calmer waves or toddler bikes for cycling along the nature reserve.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
18 Feb. 2026
-
There is a fantastic Lam retrospective at the Modern Museum of Art, but Scott had the idea months before and went to great lengths to convince Lam’s estate to collaborate.—
Rachel Tashjian,
CNN Money,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Forcing dormancy for eight to 10 weeks in a cool, dry location prior to blooming is also essential.—
Cori Sears,
The Spruce,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Fertilizer These plants benefit from a gentle houseplant fertilizer during active growth or blooming.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Schnitzer was also closely connected to Israel’s political and intelligence elite.—
Nicolas Niarchos,
Vanity Fair,
20 Feb. 2026
-
But Wasserman is the rare case of a wealthy, renown American elite whose empire is crumbling under calls for accountability from the public, local lawmakers and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.—
Lorraine Ali,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Prime.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prime. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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