primarily

adverb

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

Synonyms of primarily

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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.
Before court came into session, about 20 people, primarily women, lined up for the public seating in the courtroom, some donning bright pink T-shirts and pink nails. — Rebekah Riess, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2026 Bale and Steinem met through activism During his lifetime, Bale worked for various causes, primarily social equality and animal rights. — Julie Tremaine, PEOPLE, 3 Sep. 2026 Bioconcentration, by contrast, is a more specific process that refers exclusively to the uptake of contaminants through non-dietary pathways, primarily via respiration (from water in aquatic organisms and from air in terrestrial organisms). — Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 Sep. 2026 Tinsley notes his research is focused primarily on performance implications of energy drinks rather than their potential health risks. — Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 3 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for primarily

Word History

Etymology

primary entry 1 + -ly entry 2

First Known Use

1601, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of primarily was in 1601

Rhymes for primarily

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Browse Nearby Words

prima prattica
primarily
primariness
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Cite this Entry

“Primarily.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/primarily. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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