1
as in mainlands
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in weights
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
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Recent Examples of mains
Some are portioned for two; others are larger mains for a family affair; and there are plenty of delicious options for people taking the special occasion to celebrate their one-and-only selves.
—
Joe Sevier, Bon Appetit Magazine, 6 Feb. 2026
Familiar dishes with small boosts tend to shine the most — creamy pastas, roasted proteins, cozy vegetarian mains, chocolate-forward desserts.
—Allison Palmer, Miami Herald, 28 Jan. 2026
To facilitate the transport, Citizens is building four new booster stations, which keep the water moving, and about 52 miles of transmission mains.
—Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 26 Jan. 2026
Sprinkle colorful berries onto your morning oatmeal or chia pudding, and add fresh or cooked vegetables to your mains and side dishes.
—Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 22 Jan. 2026
The harvester can also run continuously when plugged into mains power, or it can be powered by a portable external battery pack.
—Shirl Leigh
january 20, New Atlas, 20 Jan. 2026
With a menu that spans pizzas, deli salads, sandwiches and a smattering of mains and sides, even the weariest palate will find something to eat.
—Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 14 Jan. 2026
Choose a cookbook from your collection (one of Martha's many is a natural choice) or snag a new one from the library, and work your way through each of the appetizers, mains, and desserts.
—Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 11 Jan. 2026
Coiffed Italians order bottles of red from the famous Sicilian estate Tasca d’Almerita to go with plates of ravioli and meaty mains.
—Rosalyn Wikeley, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Jan. 2026
Joe Sevier, Bon Appetit Magazine, 6 Feb. 2026
Familiar dishes with small boosts tend to shine the most — creamy pastas, roasted proteins, cozy vegetarian mains, chocolate-forward desserts.
—Allison Palmer, Miami Herald, 28 Jan. 2026
To facilitate the transport, Citizens is building four new booster stations, which keep the water moving, and about 52 miles of transmission mains.
—Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 26 Jan. 2026
Sprinkle colorful berries onto your morning oatmeal or chia pudding, and add fresh or cooked vegetables to your mains and side dishes.
—Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 22 Jan. 2026
The harvester can also run continuously when plugged into mains power, or it can be powered by a portable external battery pack.
—Shirl Leigh
january 20, New Atlas, 20 Jan. 2026
With a menu that spans pizzas, deli salads, sandwiches and a smattering of mains and sides, even the weariest palate will find something to eat.
—Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 14 Jan. 2026
Choose a cookbook from your collection (one of Martha's many is a natural choice) or snag a new one from the library, and work your way through each of the appetizers, mains, and desserts.
—Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 11 Jan. 2026
Coiffed Italians order bottles of red from the famous Sicilian estate Tasca d’Almerita to go with plates of ravioli and meaty mains.
—Rosalyn Wikeley, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mains
Noun
-
The two mainlands themselves are only 55 miles apart where Alaska's Seward Peninsula and Russia's Chukotka Peninsula sit on opposite sides of the Bering Sea.—
Trevor Hughes,
USA Today,
15 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
In a video posted on Instagram on Thursday, Vonn squats with weights, lunges from side to side and does fast kicks against a ball.—
Michal Ruprecht,
CNN Money,
5 Feb. 2026
-
The model’s core weights remain untouched, but the system can still adapt its behavior based on the task at hand.—
Jeremy Kahn,
Fortune,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
My path has crossed languages and cultures, continents and genres, sometimes gracefully, sometimes a little painfully, but always guided by curiosity and deep faith in cinema.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Feb. 2026
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The projects that made the Prada foundation cut – out of a massive more than 1,200 submissions – hail from 26 countries across 5 continents.—
Nick Vivarelli,
Variety,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
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When stars with around the same mass as the sun run out of hydrogen, the fuel necessary for nuclear fusion in their cores, their cores collapse and their outer layers swell out and are eventually lost.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Or congested living in its urban cores?—
Jonathan Lansner,
Oc Register,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Extending that coverage to full humanoid bodies would require not only significant advances in manufacturing, but improvements in power efficiency and data processing, as well.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
8 Feb. 2026
-
Remains found amid search in Mexico MEXICO CITY -- Mexican authorities on Friday announced the discovery of bodies and remains in the northwestern state of Sinaloa in an area of an ongoing search for 10 missing workers from a Canadian gold and silver mine.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The casual shoes brought a cool feel to my work staples.—
Kaelin Dodge,
InStyle,
7 Feb. 2026
-
The best sulfate-free shampoos and conditioners should be staples in your shower routine.—
Sarah Hoffmann,
Allure,
7 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
His decision to leave the agency — after just a year and a half on the job — added to a staggering list of police chiefs who served short stints at the Oakland Police Department, which has operated under federal court oversight for more than 20 years.—
Kyle Martin,
Mercury News,
5 Feb. 2026
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Each island was ruled by local chiefs and its own king.—
Jasmin 'Iolani Hakes,
Literary Hub,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The spa uses oils and essences from the hotel's medicinal garden, while the treatment rooms are set within the former convent's nuns' cells.—
Jenn Rice,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Feb. 2026
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Skin care leads the conversation, alongside a growing focus on niche fragrances, refined essences and wellness treatments.—
Rhonda Richford,
Footwear News,
22 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mains. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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