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primary

pri·ma·ry

primary

 
 
pronunciation:
praI mer i [or] praI mr i
parts of speech:
adjective, noun
features:
Word Combinations (adjective, noun), Word Explorer, Word Parts
part of speech: adjective
definition 1: most essential, important, or prevalent; main; chief.
His primary goal is to find a well-paying job so that he can support himself.What is the primary cause of obesity in this country?The railroad was the primary link between the two cities.Her primary interest is music.The primary function of the liver is to cleanse the blood of toxins.
synonyms:
chief, dominant, key, main, paramount, predominant, prime, principal
antonyms:
lesser, secondary, subordinate, subsidiary
similar words:
basic, capital, cardinal, central, critical, essential, fundamental, head, important, lead, leading, major, master, necessary, supreme, vital
definition 2: first or earliest in time or order; original.
Crawling occurs in the primary stages of a baby's development.
synonyms:
earliest, early, first, initial, original, premier, prime
antonyms:
final, last
similar words:
basic, beginning, elementary, embryonic, genetic, nascent, opening, preliminary, pristine, rudimentary
definition 3: most basic or fundamental.
Red, yellow, and blue are primary colors.
synonyms:
elementary, fundamental, prime, rudimentary
antonyms:
secondary
similar words:
basal, basic, bottom, central, elemental, essential, irreducible, radical, simple, staple, underlying
definition 4: not derived from or transmitted through something else; first hand; original.
The historian used primary sources.
antonyms:
secondary
similar words:
direct, firsthand
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part of speech: noun
inflections: primaries
definition 1: that which is first or earliest in time or order.
synonyms:
first
similar words:
alpha, antecedent, beginning, initiation, original, outset, start
definition 2: that which is most essential, important, or fundamental.
synonyms:
essential
antonyms:
alternate, secondary
similar words:
basic, element, essence, fundamental, nature
definition 3: in U.S. politics, a preliminary election in which members of each party vote for candidates to represent the party in the general election.
The Democrats will be choosing among four candidates in the upcoming primary.
similar words:
election, runoff
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