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primary

/ˈpɹaɪˌmɛɹ.i/noun, adjective3 syllables

Primary means: of first rank or importance or value; direct and immediate rather than secondary.

Synonyms for primary26

noun, as in one of the main flight feathers projecting along the outer edge of a bird's wing

primary feather, primary quill

noun, as in coil forming the part of an electrical circuit such that changing current in it induces a current in a neighboring circuit

primary coil, primary winding

noun, as in a preliminary election where delegates or nominees are chosen

primary election

adjective, as in of first rank or importance or value; direct and immediate rather than secondary

capital, direct, firsthand, first-string, original, particular, special, essential, first, 1st

adjective, as in most important element

chief, main, principal, master, important, of import

adjective, as in of or being the essential or basic part

elementary, elemental, basal, basic

adjective, as in not derived from or reducible to something else; basic

underived

Opposites of primary

secondary

What does primary mean?8

adjective

1

of first rank or importance or value; direct and immediate rather than secondary“primary goals”

2

most important element“the chief aim of living”

3

of or being the essential or basic part“an elementary need for love and nurturing”

4

not derived from or reducible to something else; basic“a primary instinct”

noun

1

one of the main flight feathers projecting along the outer edge of a bird's wing

2

coil forming the part of an electrical circuit such that changing current in it induces a current in a neighboring circuit“current through the primary coil induces current in the secondary coil”

3

a preliminary election where delegates or nominees are chosen

4

(astronomy) a celestial body (especially a star) relative to other objects in orbit around it

Definitions from the Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Primary in a sentence

  • The primary aim of science is to find truth, new truth.RJH
  • You haven't listed a primary care provider, so we're unable to cover this claim.peterius
  • Tourism, the primary economic activity, is the main driver of economic growth.The_World_Factbook
  • Today, automobiles have replaced horses as the primary means of transportation.CK
  • In the first grade of primary school, children learn addition and subtraction.carlosalberto
  • Today, cars have replaced horses as the primary means of transport.sundown
  • However, it might happen that you don't have access to your primary token device.Nicat
  • In the primary sector, you can be auto-sufficient.unknown

Sentences from Tatoeba, CC BY 2.0 FR, credited to their authors.

Forms of primary

as a noun

plural
primaries