You use primarily to say what is mainly true in a particular situation.
...a book aimed primarily at high-energy physicists.
Public order is primarily an urban problem.
Investment remains tiny primarily because of the exorbitant cost of land.
Synonyms: chiefly, largely, generally, mainly More Synonyms of primarily
More Synonyms of primarily
primarily in British English
(ˈpraɪmərəlɪ, praɪˈmɛərɪlɪ)
adverb
1.
principally; chiefly; mainly
2.
at first; originally
primarily in American English
(praɪˈmɛrəli; ˈpraɪˌmɛrəli)
adverb
1.
at first; originally
2.
mainly; principally
Examples of 'primarily' in a sentence
primarily
The same method also underpins changes to account security information, primarily designed to help users recover access to a hijacked or expired account.
Computing (2010)
The phone manufacturer has sold small phones designed primarily for internet browsing since 2005, but with very limited success.
Computing (2010)
L: It is primarily designed for internal work conducted by our own researchers.
Computing (2010)
Wooden ones are now primarily only used on rural lines.
The Sun (2009)
Quality of illumination is primarily responsible for the atmosphere of an image.
Freeman, Michael Collins Complete Guide to Photography (1993)
The book is primarily an advocacy work.
Christianity Today (2000)
They were not primarily designed to act as a crucible for young prodigies.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The "expert" at the beauty counter is primarily interested in selling the product.
Brumberg, Elaine Take Care of Your Skin (1990)
They are used primarily for working wood.
Chapman, C. & Horsley, M. & Small, E. Technology Basic Facts (1990)
Is this primarily a book about guilt?
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Some beauty products are designed primarily to delight the mind.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
People are then increasingly specialists and interested primarily in their own narrow specialty.
Peter F. Drucker MANAGEMENT: task, responsibilities, practices (1974)
They are used primarily because they do not react with anything "chemically inert".
Lashford, Stephanie The Residue Report - an action plan for safer food (1988)
Others still were primarily interested in flood control and navigation.
Peter F. Drucker MANAGEMENT: task, responsibilities, practices (1974)
Its products are used primarily by business.
Peter F. Drucker MANAGEMENT: task, responsibilities, practices (1974)
Industrial capital is primarily interested in continuity of production and in the sale of the commodities it produces.
Overbeek, Henk Global Capitalism and National Decline (1989)
And it should be primarily responsible for the design of benefit programs and benefit options for various groups in the work force.
Peter F. Drucker MANAGEMENT: task, responsibilities, practices (1974)
We are primarily concerned here with blood pressure problems in Western society.
Shreeve, Caroline (Dr.) How to Lower High Blood Pressure (1994)
Meanwhile, the regulators are primarily concerned about effective risk management.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Drugs are primarily responsible for curing about 10 per cent of all people with cancer.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
This book is concerned primarily with our present economic system, capitalism.
Hunt, E. K. Property and Prophets: The Evolution of Economic Institutions and Ideologies (1995)
If that definition is concerned primarily with results, it is certainly not the case.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
It is not primarily a book of presentation skills' although there are many useful ones here.
O'Connor, Joseph & Seymour, John Training with N.L.P. (1994)
The women's movement remained upper class mainly because these issues were primarily of concern to this class.
Butt, Gerald A Rock and a Hard Place (1994)
A spokesman told me that the vouchers were designed primarily for use in its shops but could be redeemed via its call centre.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
In other languages
primarily
British English: primarily /ˈpraɪmərəlɪ/ ADVERB
You use primarily to say what is mainly true in a particular situation.
The body is made up primarily of bone and muscle.
American English: primarily
Arabic: أَوَلاً
Brazilian Portuguese: principalmente
Chinese: 主要地
Croatian: prvenstveno
Czech: hlavně
Danish: først og fremmest
Dutch: hoofdzakelijk
European Spanish: ante todo
Finnish: pääasiassa
French: principalement
German: zuerst
Greek: πρώτιστα
Italian: principalmente
Japanese: 主として
Korean: 주로
Norwegian: primært
Polish: głównie
European Portuguese: principalmente
Romanian: în primul rând
Russian: главным образом
Latin American Spanish: ante todo
Swedish: i första hand
Thai: อย่างที่เป็นพื้นฐาน
Turkish: başlıca
Ukrainian: головним чином
Vietnamese: chủ yếu
Chinese translation of 'primarily'
primarily
(ˈpraɪmərɪlɪ)
adv
主要地 (zhǔyào de)
1 (adverb)
Definition
chiefly or mainly
Public order is primarily an urban problem.
Synonyms
chiefly
We are chiefly concerned with the welfare of the children.
largely
I largely work with people who are already motivated.
generally
Ivan made a few mistakes but was generally happy with his form.
mainly
The birds live mainly on nectar.
especially
The group is said to be gaining support, especially in the rural areas.
essentially
the belief that geniuses are essentially quite different from ordinary people
mostly
I am working with mostly highly motivated people.
basically
It's basically a vegan diet.
principally
This is principally because the major export markets are slowing.
fundamentally
He disagreed fundamentally with her judgment.
above all
Above all, chairs should be comfortable.
on the whole
On the whole, people are travelling for pleasure much more these days.
for the most part
For the most part, they try to keep out of local disputes.
2 (adverb)
Definition
originally
These machines were primarily intended for use in editing.
Synonyms
at first
originally
The castle was originally surrounded by a moat.
initially
Initially, they were wary of us.
in the first place
in the beginning
first and foremost
at or from the start
Additional synonyms
in the sense of above all
Definition
most of all
Above all, chairs should be comfortable.
Synonyms
most of all,
chiefly,
mainly,
especially,
essentially,
basically,
principally,
primarily,
in the first place,
first of all,
at the end of the day (informal),
predominantly,
most importantly,
in essence,
firstly and foremost,
at bottom,
when all is said and done (informal),
before everything,
beyond everything,
elementally
in the sense of basically
It's basically a vegan diet.
Synonyms
essentially,
firstly,
mainly,
mostly,
principally,
fundamentally,
primarily,
at heart,
inherently,
intrinsically,
at bottom,
in substance,
au fond
in the sense of especially
Definition
particularly
The group is said to be gaining support, especially in the rural areas.
Synonyms
notably,
largely,
chiefly,
mainly,
mostly,
principally,
strikingly,
conspicuously,
outstandingly,
Esp
Synonyms of 'primarily'
primarily
Explore 'primarily' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of essentially
the belief that geniuses are essentially quite different from ordinary people
Synonyms
fundamentally,
radically,
basically,
primarily,
at heart,
intrinsically,
at bottom
in the sense of for the most part
Definition
generally
For the most part, they try to keep out of local disputes.
Synonyms
mainly,
largely,
generally,
chiefly,
mostly,
principally,
on the whole,
in the main
in the sense of fundamentally
He disagreed fundamentally with her judgment.
Synonyms
essentially,
radically,
basically,
primarily,
profoundly,
intrinsically
in the sense of generally
Definition
not specifically
Ivan made a few mistakes but was generally happy with his form.
Synonyms
broadly,
mainly,
mostly,
principally,
on the whole,
predominantly,
in the main,
for the most part
in the sense of initially
Initially, they were wary of us.
Synonyms
at first,
first,
firstly,
originally,
primarily,
at the start,
in the first place,
to begin with,
at the outset,
in the beginning,
in the early stages,
at or in the beginning
in the sense of largely
Definition
principally
I largely work with people who are already motivated.
Synonyms
mainly,
generally,
chiefly,
widely,
mostly,
principally,
primarily,
considerably,
predominantly,
extensively,
by and large,
as a rule,
to a large extent,
to a great extent
in the sense of mainly
Definition
for the most part
The birds live mainly on nectar.
Synonyms
chiefly,
mostly,
largely,
generally,
usually,
principally,
in general,
primarily,
above all,
substantially,
on the whole,
predominantly,
in the main,
for the most part,
most of all,
first and foremost,
to the greatest extent
in the sense of mostly
Definition
almost entirely
I am working with mostly highly motivated people.
Synonyms
mainly,
largely,
chiefly,
principally,
primarily,
above all,
on the whole,
predominantly,
for the most part,
almost entirely
in the sense of on the whole
Definition
in general
On the whole, people are travelling for pleasure much more these days.