primarily

adverb

pri·​mar·​i·​ly prī-ˈmer-ə-lē How to pronounce primarily (audio)
 also  prə-,
 chiefly British  ˈprī-mə-rə-lē
1
: for the most part : chiefly
has now become primarily a residential townS. P. B. Mais
2
: in the first place : originally

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 case was written up in the Mexican media with indignation (primarily highlighting the work’s political incorrectness), and countless local outlets derided Gallardo with xenophobic condescension. Fabiola Iza, Artforum, 1 Mar. 2025 The book is written primarily for young people, but of course adults will read it. John Blake, CNN, 1 Mar. 2025 Public trains run infrequently and are primarily scheduled to connect with the Oslo-Trondheim mainline, making same-day return trips challenging. David Nikel, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2025 Kyle Orland Senior Gaming Editor Kyle Orland has been the Senior Gaming Editor at Ars Technica since 2012, writing primarily about the business, tech, and culture behind video games. Ars Technica, 1 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for primarily

Word History

First Known Use

1601, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of primarily was in 1601

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Primarily.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/primarily. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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