primarily
adverb
pri·mar·i·ly
prī-ˈmer-ə-lē 
also prə-
chiefly British ˈprī-mə-rə-lē
1
: for the most part : chiefly
… has now become primarily a residential town …—
S. P. B. Mais
S. P. B. Mais2
: 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
The new series was filmed primarily outdoors in Texas, presenting challenges like extreme heat and venomous snakes.
—Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 15 May 2026
That single footlight at Williams’ feet came up as primarily illumination again and again (really making those green socks pop), while at other times there was a monochromatic effect that puts the singer on roughly equal footing with the rest of her band.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 15 May 2026
Night shift work forces the body to be alert during hours it’s biologically built to sleep, creating chronic disruption to the circadian rhythm, a roughly 24-hour internal clock regulated primarily by light.
—Allison Palmer, Sacbee.com, 15 May 2026
The facility primarily makes bathtubs, which a company spokesperson said have declined in popularity with consumers, prompting Jacuzzi to consolidate its manufacturing operations.
—Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for primarily
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Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 15 May 2026
That single footlight at Williams’ feet came up as primarily illumination again and again (really making those green socks pop), while at other times there was a monochromatic effect that puts the singer on roughly equal footing with the rest of her band.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 15 May 2026
Night shift work forces the body to be alert during hours it’s biologically built to sleep, creating chronic disruption to the circadian rhythm, a roughly 24-hour internal clock regulated primarily by light.
—Allison Palmer, Sacbee.com, 15 May 2026
The facility primarily makes bathtubs, which a company spokesperson said have declined in popularity with consumers, prompting Jacuzzi to consolidate its manufacturing operations.
—Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for primarily
Cite this Entry
“Primarily.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/primarily. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
primarily
adverb
pri·mar·i·ly
prī-ˈmer-ə-lē
1
: for the most part : chiefly
2
: in the first place : originally
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