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 primarily
1
: for the most part : chiefly
… has now become primarily a residential town …—S. P. B. Mais
2
: in the first place : originally

Synonyms of primarily

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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.
The Rattlers, sponsored primarily by Ariat, will become the first PBR team with their own dedicated training facility, and more teams are expected to follow. — Cal Phillips july 31, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 July 2026 This may have seemed shocking to those who associated alien life primarily with science fiction invasion scenarios like The War of the Worlds. — Danny Robb, JSTOR Daily, 30 July 2026 The second is mayoketchup, a classic Puerto Rican sauce made primarily of ketchup and mayonnaise with a kick of garlic. — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2026 During an August meeting, the Ada County Democrats will discuss their next steps as the race primarily comes down to a match between Risch and Achilles, DeLoof said. — Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 30 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for primarily

Word History

Etymology

primary entry 1 + -ly entry 2

First Known Use

1601, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of primarily was in 1601

Rhymes for primarily

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Browse Nearby Words

prima prattica
primarily
primariness
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Primarily.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/primarily. Accessed 3 Aug. 2026.

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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

More from Merriam-Webster on primarily

Nglish: Translation of primarily for Spanish Speakers

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