primer

noun

ˈpri-mər How to pronounce primer (audio)
Definition of primernext
as in handbook
a book used for instruction in a subject a primer of human anatomy

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 primer In 2023, scientists used this approach to discover that beer byproducts were popular canvas primers for artists of the Danish Golden Age. — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 11 Sep. 2026 Other options include enamel paints, but these may require a primer before painting as well as a food-safe sealer for protection. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 8 Sep. 2026 Build a complete routine with the cleanser, SPF primer, serum and moisturizer. — ABC News, 5 Sep. 2026 Crews would need to be lowered down to the waterline, sand off the rust, put on two coats of rust-preventative primer and then two coats of naval gray paint, according to Schuster. — Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for primer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for primer
  1. handbook
  2. manual
  3. textbook
  4. text
Noun
  • Mentorship helps transfer institutional knowledge, culture and context that are hard to capture in a handbook.
    — John Abusaid, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026
  • That’s the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders — the authoritative handbook of mental disorders published by the American Psychiatric Association and used by mental health professionals in the United States.
    — Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of handbook
Noun
  • Our simplified treatment programs work, and are 20% cheaper than the standard treatment mechanisms; but manual, error-prone data collection holds them back.
    — Jeannie Annan, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Under normal conditions, the cockpit door on the plane, a Boeing 737 Max 8, uses a dead bolt that can be locked from the cockpit side, according to a 2025 Boeing manual for flight attendants.
    — Gerry Shih, Washington Post, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of manual
Noun
  • Housing, food, transportation, textbooks and childcare can determine whether a student stays enrolled.
    — Andrew Khouri, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Anyone who is going to be active in the market needs to be familiar with this textbook thinking.
    — Zev Fima, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of textbook
Noun
  • The pact's full text has not been released, and its command and operational structures are still being developed.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Be careful with links arriving through unexpected texts or emails.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of text

Browse Nearby Words

primeness
primer
primers
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Primer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/primer. Accessed 4 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on primer

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about primer

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