as in primary
coming before all others in importance
this is the main point of the study—everything else is secondary
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in power
muscular strength
all their might and main could not budge the stalled car
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in continent
one of the great divisions of land on the globe or the main part of such a division
islanders periodically traveled back to the main for supplies
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in core
the main or greater part of something as distinguished from its subordinate parts
the main of the tree is still healthy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of main
Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 3 May 2025
This was actually a main feature of the game, until Wolves doubled up on Doku for the second half: before the break, the Belgian was always free to receive the ball wide and in space on the left, meaning Wolves full-back Nelson Semedo had to rush out to him.
—Sam Lee, New York Times, 3 May 2025
Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 10 Apr. 2025
Kids eat free on Tuesdays, a free bottle of wine accompanies two entrees on Wednesdays and two drinks, two mains and a dessert run customers $85 on date night Thursdays.
—Benjy Egel, Sacbee.com, 2 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for main
Adjective
But Reese’s main source of pride from her time at LSU is less tangible.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 3 May 2025
This was actually a main feature of the game, until Wolves doubled up on Doku for the second half: before the break, the Belgian was always free to receive the ball wide and in space on the left, meaning Wolves full-back Nelson Semedo had to rush out to him.
—Sam Lee, New York Times, 3 May 2025
Noun
The Cannes Film Festival expects robust attendance — especially compared to the strike and pandemic editions — as the Côte d’Azur’s main of event of cinema is once again the starting point of awards season.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 10 Apr. 2025
Kids eat free on Tuesdays, a free bottle of wine accompanies two entrees on Wednesdays and two drinks, two mains and a dessert run customers $85 on date night Thursdays.
—Benjy Egel, Sacbee.com, 2 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for main
Recent Examples of Synonyms for main
Adjective
-
Training the model may have involved over 20,000 high-end GPUs working in concert—an expense few organizations besides OpenAI and its primary backer, Microsoft, could afford.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
30 Apr. 2025
-
Amazon Prime Video debuted as a primary sponsor for his No. 9 team at Talladega.—
Joseph Wolkin,
Forbes.com,
30 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The show explores themes of power, identity and culture in Harlem.—
Christopher Claxton,
Billboard,
5 May 2025
-
The power of the Grand Secretariat and the illegitimacy of dissent were hallmarks of imperial rule.—
Frank Lavin,
Forbes.com,
4 May 2025
Noun
-
President Trump, Vice President Vance React to First American Pope Announcement World leaders across continents extended messages of hope, unity and spiritual solidarity Thursday after Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected Pope Leo XIV.—
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 May 2025
-
The cardinals come from 71 countries across five continents, according to Vatican News, and 108 of the 135 cardinals were appointed by Pope Francis.—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
7 May 2025
Noun
-
While Republicans broadly support the core tax cut proposals Trump has championed, some have raised concerns about the overall fiscal impact of the package, which by some estimates could add around $5 trillion to the national debt in the next decade.—
Mohammed Soliman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Apr. 2025
-
Trump has hit multiple records for his first 100 days in office, but the rapidity of his actions also highlights the fragility of relying on presidential action to cement core policies.—
Rachel Treisman,
NPR,
29 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
So the predominant number of that 3,500 is from the Civil War.—
Stephen Humphries,
Christian Science Monitor,
30 Apr. 2025
-
Schiava was for a long while the predominant grape of AA, yet it was not held in high regard.—
John Mariani,
Forbes.com,
24 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Young stars Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner tore oblique muscles, forcing each of them to miss an extended stretch.—
Josh Robbins,
New York Times,
2 May 2025
-
Beyond injuries, deterioration in the muscles that support the knees can also cause problems.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
2 May 2025
Noun
-
The strength of Taiwan’s economy last year appeared to relieve him of any political need to rally his nationalist base with fist-shaking actions or rhetoric toward the mainland.—
Ian Bremmer,
Time,
26 Apr. 2025
-
Patrolling a paradise under siege Several hundred miles from the Ecuadorian mainland, the waters off the Galápagos Islands glisten with postcard beauty.—
David Culver,
CNN Money,
21 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The ‘world’s greatest deliberative body’ has become synonymous with gridlock.—
John Fund,
National Review,
27 Apr. 2025
-
The disconnect between the body and the disintegrating mind is painful to witness, and even harder for families to reconcile.—
Dr. Sabooh Mubbashar,
Hartford Courant,
27 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Main.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/main. Accessed 12 May. 2025.
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