1
: physical strength : force
—used in the phrase with might and main
The next instant we were away down the river, clawing with might and main to keep out of the woods.—
Mark Twain
Mark Twain3
: the chief part : essential point
they are in the main well-trained
4
: a pipe, duct, or circuit which carries the combined flow of tributary branches of a utility system
Synonyms
Noun
Adjective
Examples of main in a Sentence
Noun
My radio runs either off batteries or off the mains.
Turn off the water at the mains.
Adjective
Speed is the main advantage of this approach.
The company's main office is located in New York.
driving down the main road
This dish can be served as a main course or appetizer.
And now for the main event of the evening!
Recent Examples on the Web
Thomas Elias, The Mercury News, 17 Jan. 2025
From hearty mains like ham and chicken to comforting sides like potatoes, soups, and sweet potato casserole, these are our favorite slow-cooker recipes for Christmas.
01 of 24
Slow-Cooker Ham
This slow-cooker ham will help save on oven space.
—Macie Stump, Southern Living, 17 Dec. 2024
Dan Perry, Newsweek, 31 Jan. 2025
The sanctuary room will be the center’s main attraction and is expected to bring in around 175 to 250 people on the first Sunday of the month, when the largest meetings are scheduled to take place.
—Stephanie Lam, The Mercury News, 31 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for main 
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
Pressure in some hillside fire hydrants fed by those mains dropped precipitously during the firestorm because so many hydrants were tapped at once.
—Thomas Elias, The Mercury News, 17 Jan. 2025
From hearty mains like ham and chicken to comforting sides like potatoes, soups, and sweet potato casserole, these are our favorite slow-cooker recipes for Christmas.
01 of 24
Slow-Cooker Ham
This slow-cooker ham will help save on oven space.
—Macie Stump, Southern Living, 17 Dec. 2024
Adjective
The provision will overburden the already congested main runway at DCA and, as shown by a recent near-collision at the airport, increase the risk of a serious accident there.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 31 Jan. 2025
The sanctuary room will be the center’s main attraction and is expected to bring in around 175 to 250 people on the first Sunday of the month, when the largest meetings are scheduled to take place.
—Stephanie Lam, The Mercury News, 31 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for main
Dictionary Entries Near main
Cite this Entry
“Main.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/main. Accessed 9 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
main
2 of 2 adjective1
: chief entry 1 sense 2, principal
the main idea
2
: pure sense 3, sheer
by main force
3
: being a clause that is capable of standing alone as a simple sentence but is part of a larger sentence that includes a subordinate clause or another main clause
mainly
adverb
Geographical Definition
Main
geographical name
ˈmīn 
ˈmān
river 325 miles (523 kilometers) long in south central Germany rising in northern Bavaria in the Fichtelgebirge and flowing west into the Rhine River
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