1
as in main
coming before all others in importance
the primary concern for many house hunters is the asking price
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
3
as in chief
highest in rank or authority
the movie's primary screenwriter
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in preliminary
coming before the main part or item usually to introduce or prepare for what follows
a few minutes of primary instruction in the use of our diving gear before we actually got into the water
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of primary
Some research suggests its primary compound may cause dangerous heart problems, including sudden death.
—
Andrew Kolodny, The Conversation, 2 Apr. 2026
The progressive lawmaker joined Mayor Mamdani in backing Valdez, a former union organizer and low-wage worker, over Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso in the deep-blue district’s June 23 primary election.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 2 Apr. 2026
The company’s ticketing division is led by Ticketmaster, which provides primary ticket sales and distribution services for concerts and other live events, as well as ticket resales through its secondary marketplace.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
When Omicron swept the globe in late 2021, genetic testing picked up five primary branches of its family tree.
—Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for primary
Andrew Kolodny, The Conversation, 2 Apr. 2026
The progressive lawmaker joined Mayor Mamdani in backing Valdez, a former union organizer and low-wage worker, over Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso in the deep-blue district’s June 23 primary election.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 2 Apr. 2026
The company’s ticketing division is led by Ticketmaster, which provides primary ticket sales and distribution services for concerts and other live events, as well as ticket resales through its secondary marketplace.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
When Omicron swept the globe in late 2021, genetic testing picked up five primary branches of its family tree.
—Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for primary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for primary
Adjective
-
The rooms There are a dozen entry-level rooms in the curvy main building, and several outrageously large residences and villas right on the beach.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
5 Apr. 2026
-
For the tribe, its main objective is to repatriate the remains of their ancestors — a process that often involves gathering the remains and artifacts and burying them together in a spot on the site that cannot be disturbed.—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The plaintiffs in Wednesday's lawsuit argued the order unconstitutionally intrudes on Congress and the states' power to regulate elections, since the Constitution doesn't give the president any direct authority over how federal elections are conducted.—
Jacob Rosen,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
-
For instance, French people are often seen as more direct.—
Eve Chen,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The law took effect in January 2024 and allows certain people — like family members, county or city attorneys and chief law enforcement officers — to file the petition, known as an extreme risk protection order.—
Caroline Cummings,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Manufacturing activity in March gathered momentum as factories rushed to resume production after an extended national holiday in mid-February, said Huo Lihui, chief statistician at NBS.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Elon Musk’s space exploration company has filed preliminary paperwork to sell shares to the public, according to two sources familiar with the filing, a blockbuster offering that would likely rank as the biggest ever and could make its founder the world’s first trillionaire.—
Bernard Condon,
Fortune,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Segall asked Altman’s thoughts about news that a federal judge last week issued a preliminary injunction against the Pentagon’s action to label Anthropic’s AI a threat to the supply chain.—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Smoke from the Jumping Branch fire has spread for miles, prompting warnings for drivers to avoid parts of NC 80, as well as a Temporary Flight Restriction in the immediate area, McDowell County 911 reports.—
Mark Price,
Charlotte Observer,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Matches without goals triggered texts to Garden requesting immediate Wyscout Zoom sessions.—
Megan Feringa,
New York Times,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Its seminary is the foremost clerical institution in the world, training students from Lebanon, Iraq and Afghanistan in a wide range of topics, including Shiite jurisprudence, Quranic interpretation and Arabic literature.—
Mary Thurlkill,
The Conversation,
30 Mar. 2026
-
The meeting has been positioned as a critical opportunity for both sides to reset the relationship between the world’s two foremost economic and military powers.—
Sylvie Zhuang,
CNN Money,
21 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
But diplomatic protocol ahead of a presidential visit to China usually sees either the US secretary of state or the national security advisor make a preparatory trip too, and that did not happen.—
Sylvie Zhuang,
CNN Money,
21 Mar. 2026
-
Before the performance, students participate in several preparatory rehearsals.—
Noah Lyons,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
First, the predominant previous assessment of many pundits that Gulf states’ collective large investments in defense were prestige driven — as opposed to a necessity — has fallen flat on its face.—
Faisal J. Abbas,
semafor.com,
27 Mar. 2026
-
But on the Facebook Just in Time Broadway fan group, which has 7,700 members and seems to be the locus of Groffie fandom, the predominant tone is warm, almost giddy.—
Alexandra Starr,
Vulture,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Primary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/primary. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
