primarily

adverb

pri·​mar·​i·​ly prī-ˈmer-ə-lē How to pronounce primarily (audio)
also prə-
chiefly British ˈprī-mə-rə-lē
Synonyms of primarilynext
1
: for the most part : chiefly
… has now become primarily a residential town …S. P. B. Mais
2
: in the first place : originally

Examples of primarily in a Sentence

the university was primarily an agricultural college when it was founded over two centuries ago ketchup is primarily made from tomatoes
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Toomey was primarily known as a standout baseball player in high school. Scott M. Reid, Oc Register, 30 May 2026 This tops off a banner year for the Silicon Valley semiconductor company, which creates pioneering connectivity solutions, primarily for AI data centers. Diane Brady, Fortune, 29 May 2026 Historically, outbreaks caused by Bundibugyo virus have been relatively uncommon, and most diagnostic systems have therefore been designed primarily to detect the more widespread and deadlier Zaire strain. Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 May 2026 Those aisles typically included a limited selection of international products, often offering primarily sauces or oils. Laya Neelakandan, CNBC, 29 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for primarily

Word History

First Known Use

1601, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of primarily was in 1601

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Primarily.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/primarily. Accessed 2 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

primarily

adverb
pri·​mar·​i·​ly prī-ˈmer-ə-lē How to pronounce primarily (audio)
1
: for the most part : chiefly
2
: in the first place : originally

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