primary

1 of 3

adjective

pri·​ma·​ry ˈprī-ˌmer-ē  ˈprī-mə-rē 

ˈprīm-rē

1

: first in order of time or development : primitive

the primary stage of civilization

the primary lesion of a disease

2

a

: of first rank, importance, or value : principal

the primary purpose

b

: basic, fundamental

security is a primary need

c

: of, relating to, or constituting the principal flight feathers of a bird's wing

d

: of or relating to agriculture, forestry, and the extractive industries or their products

e

: expressive of present or future time

primary tense

f

: of, relating to, or constituting the strongest of the three or four degrees of stress recognized by most linguists

the first syllable of basketball carries primary stress

3

a

: direct, firsthand

primary sources of information

b

: not derivable from other colors, odors, or tastes

c

: preparatory to something else in a continuing process

primary instruction

d

: of or relating to a primary school

primary education

e

: of or relating to a primary election

a primary candidate

f

: belonging to the first group or order in successive divisions, combinations, or ramifications

primary nerves

g

: directly derived from ores

primary metals

h

: of, relating to, or being the amino acid sequence in proteins

primary protein structure

4

: resulting from the substitution of one of two or more atoms or groups in a molecule

a primary amine

especially : being or characterized by a carbon atom having a bond to only one other carbon atom

5

: of, relating to, involving, or derived from primary meristem

primary tissue

primary growth

6

: of, relating to, or involved in the production of organic substances by green plants

primary productivity

7

: providing primary care

a primary physician

primary

2 of 3

noun

plural primaries

1

: something that stands first in rank, importance, or value : fundamental

—usually used in plural

2

: the celestial body around which one or more other celestial bodies revolve

especially : the more massive usually brighter component of a binary star system

3

: one of the usually 9 or 10 strong flight feathers on the distal joint of a bird's wing see wing illustration

4

a

: primary color

b

: the sensation of seeing primary colors

5

a

: caucus

b

: an election in which qualified voters nominate or express a preference for a particular candidate or group of candidates for political office, choose party officials, or select delegates for a party convention

6

: the coil that is connected to the source of electricity in an induction coil or transformer

called also primary coil

primary

3 of 3

verb

primaried; primarying; primaries

transitive verb

: to run against (an incumbent) in a primary election

She won the seat in 2020 after successfully primarying a veteran Democrat in the district.

—Brianne Pfannenstiel

—usually used in the passive

But he's apparently going to be primaried—by a couple of people you've never heard of …

—Gail Collins

He served a single term … but was primaried, and soundly defeated, in his bid for reelection.

—Daniel Foster

Synonyms

Adjective

• arch
• big
• capital
• cardinal
• central
• chief
• dominant
• first
• foremost
• grand
• great
• greatest
• highest
• key
• leading
• main
• master
• number one
• No. 1
• numero uno
• overbearing
• overmastering
• overriding
• paramount
• predominant
• preeminent
• premier
• primal
• principal
• prior
• sovereign
• sovran
• supreme

Examples of primary in a Sentence

Adjective

The economy was the primary focus of the debate.

The family is the primary social unit of human life.

The primary function of our schools is to educate our young people.

We just started our primary flight training.

The book is based mainly on primary sources rather than secondary sources.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Ruscha’s faith in the power of imagination over progress is among his primary artistic achievements. —Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2024

Even with the support of Cantwell and McMorris Rodgers, whose committees bear primary responsibility for privacy legislation, the measure faces uncertain prospects. —Cristiano Lima-Strong, Washington Post, 7 Apr. 2024

English, long considered the primary language for business, has never been as universal or sufficient as conventionally believed. —Rosemary Salomone, TIME, 7 Apr. 2024

The primary campaign saw public officials like state Sen. Brian Jones, county Supervisor Joel Anderson and San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria all elected to their party’s central committee. —Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Apr. 2024

Cowboy Carter marks Beyoncé’s biggest opening debut since 2016’s Lemonade, which opened with more than 650,000 units at the time, when streaming was still just coming into dominance as the primary listening format. —Ethan Millman, Rolling Stone, 7 Apr. 2024

But improving scientists’ understanding of longitude wasn’t his primary motive for sailing out to Penobscot. —Yaakov Zinberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Apr. 2024

Most cities hold their city council and mayoral elections during the primary elections. —Maritza Dominguez, The Arizona Republic, 3 Apr. 2024

After presenting their proper immigration documents at the primary booth without issues, Y.F. refused to drive to the secondary inspection area until their documents were returned, prosecutors wrote. —Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Mar. 2024

Noun

The former president won just over 78% of the vote in Wisconsin’s presidential primary. —Lawrence Andrea, Journal Sentinel, 8 Apr. 2024

The top two vote-getters in each race, except the presidential primary, will advance to the fall runoff regardless of political party. —Emily Alvarenga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2024

Ahead of the New Hampshire presidential primary in January, a fake robocall impersonating President Biden encouraged Democrats not to vote, raising concerns about misinformation and voter suppression going into November's general election. —Jacob Rosen, CBS News, 5 Apr. 2024

Nikki Haley, who dropped out of the Republican primary race last month, received about 13% of the votes in the state's presidential primary. —Mansee Khurana, NPR, 3 Apr. 2024

That election will take place the same day as the parties’ primaries for the November election, which will determine who occupies the seat beginning in early 2025. —John Aguilar, The Denver Post, 3 Apr. 2024

State significance The presidential primary in Rhode Island, typically held on the fourth Tuesday in April, was moved from April 23 to April 2 to avoid occurring during Passover. —Abc News, ABC News, 2 Apr. 2024

The Chiefs’ other primary running back in the rotation last season, Jerick McKinnon, is a free agent and remains unsigned. —Jesse Newell, Kansas City Star, 2 Apr. 2024

Voters who didn't vote in the March 5 primary may vote in either primary in the runoff. —Michael R. Wickline, arkansasonline.com, 2 Apr. 2024

Verb

Another fight erupted in 2004, when the mayor of Jersey City recruited Steven Fulop to try to primary Mr. Menendez. —Nicholas Fandos, New York Times, 27 Sep. 2023

New district lines have forced incumbents to primary each other in Michigan, Georgia and West Virginia. —Arit John, Los Angeles Times, 11 Jan. 2022

In his recent memoir, Hogan claims that members of Trump's cabinet asked him to primary the president. —Tyler Olson, Fox News, 23 Sep. 2020

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English primarye, primary "original, earliest," borrowed from Latin prīmārius "of the highest importance or station (of persons), first-rate, chief" (Late Latin, "original, lying at the beginning," Medieval Latin, "foremost, leading"), from prīmus "first, foremost, earliest, of first importance" + -ārius -ary entry 2 — more at prime entry 2

Noun

in part borrowed from Late Latin prīmārius "person leading, leader," noun derivative of Latin prīmārius "of the highest importance or station, chief, primary entry 1"; in part noun derivative of primary entry 1, or shortened from collocations with the adjective; (sense 5) shortened from primary election, earlier primary assembly, translation of French assemblée primaire

Verb

derivative of primary entry 2

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1656, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1958, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing primary

• primary atypical pneumonia
• primary care
• primary meristem
• primary root
• primary syphilis
• primary source
• primary wall
• primary school
• primary tooth
• primary color
• pre-primary
• direct primary
• primary cell

Kids Definition

primary

1 of 2 adjective

pri·​ma·​ry ˈprī-ˌmer-ē  ˈprīm-(ə-)rē 

1

: first in time or development : initial, primitive

the primary stage of a civilization

2

a

: of first rank, importance, or value

our primary duties

b

: basic entry 1 sense 1, fundamental

the family is the primary unit of human association

c

: of, relating to, or being one of the principal flight feathers of a bird's wing located on the outer joint

d

: of, relating to, or being the strongest of three levels of stress in pronunciation

3

a

: not made or coming from something else : firsthand

a primary source of information

b

: of, relating to, or being the current or circuit that is connected to the source of electricity in an induction coil or transformer

primary

2 of 2 noun

plural primaries

1

: one of the usually nine or ten strong flight feathers on the outer joint of a bird's wing

2

: primary color

3

: an election in which members of a political party nominate candidates for office

4

: the coil that is connected to the source of electricity in an induction coil or transformer

called also primary coil

Medical Definition

primary

1 of 2 adjective

pri·​ma·​ry ˈprī-ˌmer-ē  ˈprīm-(ə-)rē 

1

a(1)

: first in order of time or development

(2)

: relating to or being the milk teeth and especially the 20 milk teeth in the human set

b(1)

: arising spontaneously : idiopathic

primary insomnia

the absence of any pelvic abnormality confirmed the diagnosis of primary dysmenorrhea

(2)

: being an initial tumor or site especially of cancer

efforts to find the primary tumor have failed

—Raphael Feinmesser

c

: providing primary care

a primary physician

2

: not derivable from other colors, odors, or tastes

3

: belonging to the first group or order in successive divisions, combinations, or ramifications

primary nerves

4

: of, relating to, or being the amino acid sequence in proteins

primary protein structure

compare secondary sense 3, tertiary entry 2 sense 2c

5

: resulting from the substitution of one of two or more atoms or groups in a molecule

especially : being or characterized by a carbon atom having a bond to only one other carbon atom

primary

2 of 2 noun

plural primaries

: primary color

Legal Definition

primary

1 of 2 adjective

pri·​ma·​ry ˈprī-ˌmer-ē, -mə-rē 

1

: of first rank, value, or importance

2

: belonging to the first group or order in successive divisions, combinations, or ramifications

primarily

prī-ˈmer-ə-lē 

adverb

primary

2 of 2 noun

plural primaries

1

: caucus

2

: an election in which qualified voters nominate or express a preference for a particular candidate or group of candidates for political office, choose party officials, or select delegates for a party convention