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
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 prime
Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 26 June 2025
Get ready for a possible soaking, Kansas City — the atmosphere is primed, which could bring torrential rainfall.
—Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 26 June 2025
Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 30 June 2025
Oracle is a prime example of this, according to Cramer.
—Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 30 June 2025
Tim Carter, Hartford Courant, 21 June 2025
The potential is still there for Byram at 24 years old, just entering the prime of his career, according to aging curve work done by The Athletic’s Dom Luszczyszyn.
—Shayna Goldman, New York Times, 19 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for prime
Adjective
With the recent explosion in digital audio, small business owners who adopt this ad format today will be primed to expand their reach, deepen brand engagement, and stay competitive within a changing marketplace.
—Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 26 June 2025
Get ready for a possible soaking, Kansas City — the atmosphere is primed, which could bring torrential rainfall.
—Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 26 June 2025
Noun
The menu features a range of prime steaks, from classic filet mignon to specialty A5 Japanese wagyu strip, and a line of seafood appetizers and entrees.
—Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 30 June 2025
Oracle is a prime example of this, according to Cramer.
—Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 30 June 2025
Verb
That said, think about the chemicals used to prime and cement the tubing to the fittings.
—Tim Carter, Hartford Courant, 21 June 2025
The potential is still there for Byram at 24 years old, just entering the prime of his career, according to aging curve work done by The Athletic’s Dom Luszczyszyn.
—Shayna Goldman, New York Times, 19 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for prime
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prime
Adjective
-
Stephanie Martz, the NRF’s chief administrative officer and general counsel, said the lawsuit infringes on retailers’ rights.—
Meghan Hall,
Sourcing Journal,
7 July 2025
-
Suno, one of the most prominent AI music generation companies in the industry, has hired former Atlantic Records general manager/executive vice president Paul Sinclair as chief music officer, the company announced on Monday.—
Ethan Millman,
HollywoodReporter,
7 July 2025
Adjective
-
There is not a lot of room, but the midfielder is excellent at operating in tight spaces.—
Jay Harris,
New York Times,
11 July 2025
-
Performance has also been excellent so far compared to peers and a benchmark index.—
Jesse Pound,
CNBC,
11 July 2025
Noun
-
Her top tips include planting nectar-rich annuals like lantanas and zinnias, using lightweight potting soil, feeding plants with long-lasting fertilizer, and mixing blooms with eye-catching foliage.—
Steve Bender,
Southern Living,
6 July 2025
-
These organisms can quickly reproduce, leading to dense blooms and surface scums, particularly in the shallow, warmer parts of the lake, according to the NPS.—
Joe Edwards,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 July 2025
Noun
-
In just 30 games, averaged 12.9 points and 4.9 rebounds on 36% shooting from 3-point range, all marks that were personal bests.—
Jason Beede,
The Orlando Sentinel,
29 June 2025
-
Both sums are weekly bests for Lake, who co-authored each song on the LP.—
Jim Asker,
Billboard,
25 June 2025
Verb
-
Would grounding every traveler be an absolute climate win?—
Emese Maczko,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
-
In the middle of a tour rewriting the rules of genre and Black Southern identity, this intimate celebration grounded the spectacle in something more intimate: a toast among kin, at home, with history watching.—
Shelby Stewart,
Essence,
30 June 2025
Adjective
-
This is a great NBA Summer League matchup; make sure to tune in and catch all the action.—
Ben Verbrugge,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 July 2025
-
Disneyland loves to celebrate decades and there has been none bigger than the current one that has seen unparalleled growth greater than any decade in park history — including the first that Walt Disney personally oversaw.—
Brady MacDonald,
Oc Register,
7 July 2025
Noun
-
The podcast’s popularity earned him a spot on the Forbes Under 30 Europe list in 2019, more than 100 million downloads and a direct line into the private capital elite.—
Zoya Hasan,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
-
For those of us in the trenches of X, the meltdown was a familiar sight, echoing the contempt that the tech elite have directed at San Francisco for years, with the endless lamentations of anarchy at pharmacy branches in Union Square or the liberal policies of politicians like Aaron Peskin.—
Leo Schwartz,
Fortune,
30 June 2025
Verb
-
The goal shouldn’t be to import talent or extract ideas but to actively engage through open-source projects, mentoring relationships, co-building initiatives and shared platforms.—
Daniel Jebaraj,
Forbes.com,
10 July 2025
-
There are many ways to contribute: presenting, mentoring, helping organize or serving on the board.—
Sonia Singh,
Rolling Stone,
10 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Prime.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prime. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share