as in handbook
a book used for instruction in a subject
a primer of human anatomy
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Recent Examples of primer
Safe to say, the primer is now an everyday must-have in my routine.
—
Alyssa Morin, InStyle, 5 Mar. 2026
His speech became a bit of a primer for the In Memoriam segment, which was, frankly, just a total sobfest.
—Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 2 Mar. 2026
Here is a primer on the benefits, its evolution, and both sides in the debate.
—Cheryl Winokur Munk, CNBC, 27 Feb. 2026
Mrie’s memoir is a useful primer, if hardly the last word, on the complexities of the civil war and the shortcomings of the rebel forces.
—Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for primer
Alyssa Morin, InStyle, 5 Mar. 2026
His speech became a bit of a primer for the In Memoriam segment, which was, frankly, just a total sobfest.
—Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 2 Mar. 2026
Here is a primer on the benefits, its evolution, and both sides in the debate.
—Cheryl Winokur Munk, CNBC, 27 Feb. 2026
Mrie’s memoir is a useful primer, if hardly the last word, on the complexities of the civil war and the shortcomings of the rebel forces.
—Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for primer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for primer
Noun
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The forthcoming guide, which education officials have described as a first step toward a more comprehensive handbook to be issued at a later date, is coming as families and teachers are deeply divided and anxious about the potential — and pitfalls — of the new technology.—
Cayla Bamberger,
New York Daily News,
23 Mar. 2026
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There's no universal handbook for buyers who want to stay on the right side of ethics.—
Shaun McKinnon,
AZCentral.com,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Museum workers had assembled it from forty pieces with no instruction manual.—
Lauren Collins,
New Yorker,
1 Apr. 2026
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This includes the device, a user manual, power cord, water inlet and drainage hoses, five urine test strips, an RFID reader, a box of washable litter, and litter detergent.—
Maryna Holovnova,
New Atlas,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
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But today, their company Lehman Brothers — which catastrophically collapsed in bankruptcy in 2008 — is remembered as a textbook case for the pitfalls of unchecked greed, corruption and moral bankruptcy.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 Mar. 2026
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Before the three scientists’ work, chimpanzees, gorillas and orangutans were largely abstract animals to most people – zoo exhibits, textbook illustrations, evolutionary symbols.—
Mireya Mayor,
The Conversation,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
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For the Supreme Court to do so would require it to repudiate the Constitution’s text, the Court’s own precedents, and the enduring understanding of all three branches and of the American people.—
David Cole,
The New York Review of Books,
4 Apr. 2026
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The singer-songwriter also included a screenshot of a text from someone who appeared to be from his team.—
Charisma Madarang,
Rolling Stone,
3 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Primer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/primer. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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