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
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Recent Examples of primary
Democratic mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo speaks during a primary debate on June 4 in New York.
—
Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 June 2025
Joe Schoen and Daboll already are giving a ton of key players days and weeks off this spring, limiting the football that some of their primary contributors are playing.
—Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 5 June 2025
The gluteus medius muscle, a smaller buttock muscle located underneath the gluteus maximus, is the primary muscle supporting the pelvis.
4.
—Aubrey Bailey, Verywell Health, 5 June 2025
Whoever comes out of the June 24 Democratic primary victorious is more than likely New York City's next mayor -- nearly every borough in the overwhelmingly Democratic city voted for Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election, per election returns.
—Oren Oppenheim, ABC News, 4 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for primary
Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 June 2025
Joe Schoen and Daboll already are giving a ton of key players days and weeks off this spring, limiting the football that some of their primary contributors are playing.
—Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 5 June 2025
The gluteus medius muscle, a smaller buttock muscle located underneath the gluteus maximus, is the primary muscle supporting the pelvis.
4.
—Aubrey Bailey, Verywell Health, 5 June 2025
Whoever comes out of the June 24 Democratic primary victorious is more than likely New York City's next mayor -- nearly every borough in the overwhelmingly Democratic city voted for Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election, per election returns.
—Oren Oppenheim, ABC News, 4 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for primary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for primary
Adjective
-
The golden flying snake bears two main color morphs — a green-yellow form sports bold black streaks and occasional reddish dorsal spots, and another form where the same base hues are overlaid with subtler crossbars.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2025
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It was later expanded to include four main ventilation channels (and some 50,000 smaller shafts) serving seven levels, which could be closed off from the inside with a large rolling stone.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
31 May 2025
Adjective
-
Directing the movie in the immediate aftermath of Israel’s Gaza invasion, Lapid had to work under guerrilla conditions, outsourcing his financing needs to France, and finding additional support from the independent financing body the Israel Film Fund.—
Eric Kohn,
HollywoodReporter,
30 May 2025
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There were no immediate reports of civilian casualties on the ground.—
Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports,
Arkansas Online,
30 May 2025
Adjective
-
The best thing small businesses can do right now is to be flexible and diversify their sourcing and procurement strategies, says Tala Akhavan, chief operating officer of Pietra, a platform that helps brands with sourcing, production and logistics among other services.—
Lisa Eadicicco,
CNN Money,
1 June 2025
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Michael serves as co-executive chair of Rhode’s board and Lauren is President and chief brand officer.—
Pamela N. Danziger,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2025
Adjective
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Officials believe the girls most likely died by asphyxiation, according to a preliminary report filed with the Chelan County Superior Court, Fox 13 Seattle reported.—
Nicole Acosta,
People.com,
5 June 2025
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Thursday’s preliminary injunction made that relief more long term and acknowledged the irreparable harm that Chung could otherwise face.—
Cayla Bamberger,
New York Daily News,
5 June 2025
Adjective
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The attack came a day after direct peace talks in Istanbul made no progress on ending the fighting.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
4 June 2025
-
The video begins with an overhead shot of the massive property, offering a direct view of the home’s surrounding greenery and now-empty pool in the backyard.—
Natalia Senanayake,
People.com,
4 June 2025
Adjective
-
Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
5 June 2025
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The foremost conflict playing out across the Middle East today is between Israel and Iran, a nation that already possesses a sophisticated and large-scale nuclear program.—
Tom O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 June 2025
Adjective
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The Navy has replicated the Army's preparatory course and implemented its own training system for potential recruits who initially fall short.—
Luis Martinez,
ABC News,
3 June 2025
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Pade paints directly onto the canvas without a preparatory drawing, often smudging areas of the canvas with a cloth at the end of a day in her Paris studio.—
Lee Sharrock,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2025
Adjective
-
But the predominant theme of the debate was Cuomo facing attacks from the eight other candidates, who laced into him on everything from public safety and education to affordable housing production and the ex-governor’s integrity.—
Josephine Stratman,
New York Daily News,
5 June 2025
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Apparently natural selection among the Uru, Aymara and Quechua peoples of the Bolivian Altiplano took DNA sequences that are present but rare in other populations around the world and increased their frequency to the point where the normally uncommon sequences are predominant in these groups.—
Kermit Pattison,
Scientific American,
20 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Primary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/primary. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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