main

1 of 2

noun

1
: physical strength : force
used in the phrase with might and main
The next instant we were away down the river, clawing with might and main to keep out of the woods.Mark Twain
2
a
b
3
: the chief part : essential point
they are in the main well-trained
4
: a pipe, duct, or circuit which carries the combined flow of tributary branches of a utility system
5
a
b

main

2 of 2

adjective

1
: chief, principal
the main idea
2
: fully exerted : sheer
main force
by main strength
3
obsolete : of or relating to a broad expanse (as of sea)
4
: connected with or located near the mainmast or mainsail
5
: expressing the chief predication in a complex sentence
the main clause

Examples of main in a Sentence

Noun My radio runs either off batteries or off the mains. Turn off the water at the mains. Adjective Speed is the main advantage of this approach. The company's main office is located in New York. driving down the main road This dish can be served as a main course or appetizer. And now for the main event of the evening! See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
This included veggie mains like these cheesy roasted cabbage wedges, bathed in a lemony cream sauce and showered in nutty Parmesan. Nina Moskowitz, Bon Appétit, 27 Oct. 2023 Any hearty or savory main will go well with the simple yet bright nature of this corn dish. Jasmine Smith, Southern Living, 10 Sep. 2023 The satisfying mains below all contain less than 500 milligrams of sodium per serving, with half containing less that 350 mg. Anna Luisa Rodriguez, Washington Post, 18 Oct. 2023 Menu items include burrata with mushrooms; roasted cauliflower with dates and turmeric; pizzas, pastas, steaks; and other mains like lobster and fries and whole branzino. Sarah Blaskovich, Dallas News, 1 Sep. 2023 Potato Smiles for mains and Fig Melba for pudding 4. Daniel Rodgers, Vogue, 10 Oct. 2023 Victoria Beckham is posting thirst traps of David on main again. Philip Ellis, Men's Health, 17 June 2023 White Wine Type: Bold and Dry Best classic food pairings for this type of white wine: Cozy main dishes like roast turkey or chicken, creamy pasta and other starchy mains, higher-fat seafood, and hard cheeses. Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Sep. 2023 Prime steaks are the centerpiece of the menu, though other mains include fancy classics like lobster thermidor and beef Wellington. Sarah Blaskovich, Dallas News, 3 Aug. 2023
Adjective
Our main complaint is that Peacock is riding hard on its back catalog. Scott Gilbertson, WIRED, 25 Nov. 2023 As for York, her longtime main residence is a Mediterranean-style mansion directly overlooking Malibu’s bustling Pacific Coast Highway, originally purchased by Tom Petty way back in 1998. James McClain, Robb Report, 25 Nov. 2023 Prices: snacks and appetizers $6 to $28, main courses $22 to $36. Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 24 Nov. 2023 His main goal in decorating the 25,000-square-foot space? Elise Taylor, Vogue, 24 Nov. 2023 Switching up the typical slasher plot lines, the two main characters start to switch bodies back-and-forth, confusing the killer's murderous intentions. Keith Langston, Peoplemag, 24 Nov. 2023 If convenience is your main focus, check out our slow cooker recipes. Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 24 Nov. 2023 While there are a couple of new padel courts along with the 14 traditional tennis courts, there’s no sign of pickleball—even though the US has recently become the resort’s main market. Ann Abel, Forbes, 13 Nov. 2023 Infants born prematurely at Gaza’s main hospital are dying as the facility goes out of service. Elizabeth Both, NBC News, 13 Nov. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'main.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

in sense 1, from Middle English, from Old English mǣgen; akin to Old High German magan strength, Old English magan to be able; in other senses, from main entry 2 or by shortening — more at may entry 1

Adjective

Middle English, from Old English mǣgen-, from mǣgen strength

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of main was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near main

Cite this Entry

“Main.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/main. Accessed 28 Nov. 2023.

Kids Definition

main

1 of 2 noun
1
: physical strength : force
used in the phrase with might and main
2
3
: the chief part : essential point
they are in the main well trained
4
: a principal pipe or circuit of a utility system
gas main
water main

main

2 of 2 adjective
1
: chief entry 1 sense 2, principal
the main idea
2
: pure sense 3, sheer
by main force
3
: being a clause that is capable of standing alone as a simple sentence but is part of a larger sentence that includes a subordinate clause or another main clause
mainly adverb

Geographical Definition

Main

geographical name

ˈmīn How to pronounce Main (audio)
ˈmān
river 325 miles (523 kilometers) long in south central Germany rising in northern Bavaria in the Fichtelgebirge and flowing west into the Rhine River

More from Merriam-Webster on main

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!