You use primary to describe something that is very important.
[formal]
That's the primary reason the company's share price has held up so well.
His misunderstanding of language was the primary cause of his other problems.
The family continues to be the primary source of care for people as they grow older.
Synonyms: chief, leading, main, best More Synonyms of primary
2. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
Primary education is given to pupils between the ages of 5 and 11.
[British]
Britain did not introduce compulsory primary education until 1880.
Ninety-nine per cent of primary pupils now have hands-on experience of computers.
...primary teachers.
regional note: in AM, use elementary
3. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
Primary is used to describe something that occurs first.
It is not the primary tumour that kills, but secondary growths elsewhere in the body.
They have been barred from primary bidding for clients.
4. countable noun
A primary or a primary election is an election in an American state in which people vote for someone to become a candidate for a political office. Compare general election.
...the 1968 New Hampshire primary.
She won the Democratic primary.
New York holds its primary election on Tuesday.
More Synonyms of primary
English Easy Learning GrammarVerbsVerbs are words that allow us to talk about activities, processes, states of being,and states of mind. This basket holds quite a lot. John was reading ... Read more
primary in British English
(ˈpraɪmərɪ)
adjective
1.
first in importance, degree, rank, etc
2.
first in position or time, as in a series
3.
fundamental; basic
4.
being the first stage; elementary
5. (prenominal)
of or relating to the education of children up to the age of 11
6.
(of the flight feathers of a bird's wing) growing from the manus
7.
a.
being the part of an electric circuit, such as a transformer or induction coil, in which a changing current induces a current in a neighbouring circuit
a primary coil
b.
(of a current) flowing in such a circuit
Compare secondary
8.
a.
(of a product) consisting of a natural raw material; unmanufactured
b.
(of production or industry) involving the extraction or winning of such products. Agriculture, fishing, forestry, hunting, and mining are primary industries
Compare secondary (sense 7), tertiary (sense 3)
9. chemistry
a.
(of an organic compound) having a functional group attached to a carbon atom that is attached to at least two hydrogen atoms
b.
(of an amine) having only one organic group attached to the nitrogen atom; containing the group NH2
c.
(of a salt) derived from a tribasic acid by replacement of one acidic hydrogen atom with a metal atom or electropositive group
10. linguistics
a.
derived from a word that is not a derivation but the ultimate form itself. Lovable is a primary derivative of love
b.
(of Latin, Greek, or Sanskrit tenses) referring to present or future time
Compare historic (sense 3)
11. geology
relating to magmas that have not experienced fractional crystallization or crystal contamination
nounWord forms: plural-ries
12.
a person or thing that is first in rank, occurrence, etc
13. (in the US)
a.
a preliminary election in which the voters of a state or region choose a party's convention delegates, nominees for office, etc
See also closed primary, direct primary, open primary
b.
a local meeting of voters registered with one party to nominate candidates, select convention delegates, etc
Full name: primary election
14. primary colour
15.
any of the flight feathers growing from the manus of a bird's wing
16.
a primary coil, winding, inductance, or current in an electric circuit
17. astronomy
a celestial body around which one or more specified secondary bodies orbit
the sun is the primary of the earth
Word origin
C15: from Latin prīmārius of the first rank, principal, from prīmus first
primary in American English
(ˈpraɪˌmɛri; ˈpraɪməri)
adjective
1.
first in time or order of development; primitive; original; earliest
2.
from which others are derived; fundamental; elemental; basic
3.
designating colors regarded as basic, or as those from which all others may be derived
classification of colors as primary varies see also color (sense 2) color (sense 3)
4.
of or in the first stage of a sequence; elementary
primary school
5.
first in importance; chief; principal; main
a primary concern
6.
firsthand; direct
a primary source of information
7. Chemistry
a.
characterized by or resulting from the replacement of one atom or radical
b.
characterized by groups or radicals that are attached to the end carbon atom of achain, i.e., to a CH2 group (Ex.: primary alcohols, CH2OH; primary amines, CH2NH2)
8. Electricity
designating or of an inducing current, input circuit, or input coil in a transformer, induction coil, etc.
9. Geology
a.
formed directly by sedimentation, solidification, or precipitation and not subsequently altered
said of rocks
b. Obsolete
designating or of the earliest geological periods, up through the Paleozoic Era
10. Linguistics
having as its fundamental form a base or other element that cannot be broken down
said of derivation
11. Medicine
designating or having to do with the initial medical care given to a patient, before referral to another doctor, a specialist, etc.
12. Zoology
designating or of the large, stiff feathers on the last section, or hand, of a bird's wing
nounWord forms: pluralˈpriˌmaries
13.
something first in order, quality, importance, etc.
14. US
in the U.S.,
a.
a local meeting of voters of a given political party to nominate candidates for publicoffice, select delegates to a convention, etc.
b.
direct primary election
15.
any of the primary colors
16. Astronomy
a.
a sun, planet, etc. in relation to its satellites
b.
the brighter member of a binary star
17. Electricity
a primary coil
18. Zoology
a primary feather
Word origin
ME prymary < L primarius < primus, first: see prime
Examples of 'primary' in a sentence
primary
All voters can take part in the primary election.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Businesses and consumers say the smartphone has become the primary device they use to access the internet.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
His local primary school was at a loss.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The organisation’s primary concern when devising the scheme was to provide as many computers using as little energy as possible.
Computing (2010)
We are both 17 and have known one another since primary school.
The Sun (2017)
The party 's primary contest is expected by many people to produce the next president in the election in May.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It also killed the hepatitis C virus, a common cause of primary liver cancer.
The Sun (2016)
Your primary aim should always be get away.
Lamplugh, Diana & Sterwin, Diana & Nottidge, Pamela Survive the Nine to Five - a woman's guide to working well (1989)
The primary care group suggested a feasibility study on setting up a practice.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
They detail incidents over three years involving both primary and secondary school teachers.
The Sun (2010)
This brings up one of the primary reasons for not giving credit.
Christianity Today (2000)
The best way to do this is by having election primaries.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The primary purpose of prison is punishment.
The Sun (2013)
Primary elections and party caucuses should be abolished.
Chancellor, John Peril and Promise: A Commentary on America (1990)
Where had she been when the primary votes were being counted?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Profit and growth will become the primary objectives.
Cloke, Paul J (ed) Rural Land-Use Planning in Developed Nations (1989)
There was particular concern about primary schools becoming academies.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
We are the closest in age and the primary song writers of the band.
The Sun (2009)
It was like the first day at primary school and a very bad hangover all at once.
John Harris THE LAST PARTY: Britpop, Blair and the demise of English rock (2003)
Another report for the review studied the history of primary education.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
My primary school was one of the worst in the country.
The Sun (2012)
He has also been putting pressure on party leaders to stage a primary election in the autumn.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
But the other effect is to make the party primaries the only elections that count.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
It was not as straightforward as simply winning the most votes in primaries.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Surely this should be a primary aim, not a feeble stumbling block?
Lashford, Stephanie The Residue Report - an action plan for safer food (1988)
It also means persuading them to open primary current accounts, those receiving the main monthly pay cheque.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The current primary school week involves four long days from 8.30am to 4.30pm.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
In other languages
primary
British English: primary /ˈpraɪmərɪ/ ADJECTIVE
You use primary to describe something that is extremely important or most important for someone or something.
The primary source of water in the region is the river.
American English: primary
Arabic: أَوَلِيّ
Brazilian Portuguese: primário
Chinese: 主要的
Croatian: primaran
Czech: hlavní
Danish: primær
Dutch: primair
European Spanish: primario
Finnish: tärkein
French: primaire
German: anfänglich
Greek: πρωτεύων
Italian: principale
Japanese: 第一の
Korean: 주요한
Norwegian: primær
Polish: podstawowy
European Portuguese: primário
Romanian: principal
Russian: первоначальный
Latin American Spanish: primario
Swedish: primär
Thai: ที่สำคัญที่สุด
Turkish: ilk
Ukrainian: перший
Vietnamese: quan trọng nhất
All related terms of 'primary'
primary winding
an induction coil that is the part of an electric circuit in which a changing current induces a current in a neighbouring circuit
open primary
a primary election in which any registered voter may participate
primary care
Primary care refers to those parts of the health service, such as general practitioners and hospital casualty departments , that deal with people who are in immediate need of medical care.
primary cell
an electric cell that generates an electromotive force by the direct and usually irreversible conversion of chemical energy into electrical energy. It cannot be recharged efficiently by an electric current
primary color
Primary colors are basic colors that can be mixed together to produce other colors. They are usually considered to be red, yellow , blue , and sometimes green .
primary focus
The focus of something is the main topic or main thing that it is concerned with.
primary metal
metal derived directly from ore rather than from scrap
primary pupil
The pupils of a school are the children who go to it.
primary task
A task is an activity or piece of work which you have to do, usually as part of a larger project.
primary tense
in Latin , Greek, and Sanskrit , a tense referring to present or future time
primary tooth
→ milk tooth
closed primary
a primary in which only members of a particular party may vote
direct primary
a primary in which voters directly select the candidates who will run for office
primary accent
the strongest accent in a word or breath group, as that on the first syllable of agriculture
primary colour
Primary colours are basic colours that can be mixed together to produce other colours. They are usually considered to be red, yellow, blue, and sometimes green.
primary feather
any of the flight feathers growing from the manus of a bird's wing
primary insurer
A primary insurer is the insurance company that first sells insurance to a client , who later purchases reinsurance.
primary mirror
the mirror that collects and focuses the incoming light in a reflecting telescope
primary product
a product consisting of a natural raw material; an unmanufactured product
primary purpose
The purpose of something is the reason for which it is made or done.
primary reason
The reason for something is a fact or situation which explains why it happens or what causes it to happen.
primary school
A primary school is a school for children between the ages of 5 and 11.
primary sealing
Primary sealing is devices used for sealing tanks , to reduce emissions , often made of foam .
primary source
The source of something is the person, place, or thing which you get it from.
primary stress
the heaviest stress or force given to one syllable in a spoken word or to one word in an utterance ; the strongest of the four phonemic degrees of stress
primary teacher
a teacher in a primary school
additive primary
any of three spectral colours (usually red , green , and blue ) that can be mixed to match any other colour, including white light but excluding black
primary campaign
A campaign is a planned set of activities that people carry out over a period of time in order to achieve something such as social or political change.
primary dentition
the deciduous dentition
primary education
(in Britain) education for children below the age of 11
primary election
first in importance , degree , rank, etc
primary electron
in thermionics, any of the electrons falling on a body, distinguished from those emitted by it
primary industry
an industry, as agriculture , forestry , or fishing, that deals in obtaining natural materials
primary motivation
Your motivation for doing something is what causes you to want to do it.
primary objective
Your objective is what you are trying to achieve.
primary processes
unconscious , irrational thought processes, such as condensation or displacement , governed by the pleasure principle
primary producer
a person or an organization that is involved in the extraction or winning of products consisting of raw materials, as in agriculture , fishing, forestry , hunting , or mining
primary qualities
(in empiricist philosophy ) those properties of objects that are directly known by experience , such as size, shape, and number
primary residence
A residence is a house where people live .
presidential primary
a direct primary for the selection of state delegates to a national party convention and the expression of preference for a U.S. presidential nominee
primary containment
Primary containment is the main means of preventing leaks and spills using equipment in direct content with the oil or gas being stored or transported .
primary responsibility
If you have responsibility for something or someone, or if they are your responsibility , it is your job or duty to deal with them and to take decisions relating to them.
primary schoolteacher
a teacher in a primary school
psychological primary
one of a set of perceived colours ( red , yellow , blue , green , black , and white) that can be used to characterize all other perceived colours
subtractive primary
any of three spectral colours (usually red , green , and blue ) that can be mixed to match any other colour, including white light but excluding black
feeder primary school
a junior school whose pupils go to a specific secondary school
primary health care
the medical attention that a patient receives on initial contact with a health-care service
direct primary election
a preliminary election at which candidates for public office are chosen by direct vote of the people instead of by delegates at a convention : in closed primary elections voters must declare party affiliation and may vote only for candidates of their party
primary producing country
a country that is involved in the extraction or winning of products consisting of raw materials, as in agriculture , fishing, forestry , hunting , or mining
feeder school
a junior school whose pupils go to a specific secondary school
Chinese translation of 'primary'
primary
(ˈpraɪmərɪ)
adj
(= principal)[reason, aim, cause]主要的 (zhǔyào de)
(Brit)[education, teacher]小学(學)的 (xiǎoxué de)
n(c)
(in US) (also primary election) 初选(選) (chūxuǎn)
1 (adjective)
Definition
first in importance
His primary aim in life is to be happy.
Synonyms
chief
Financial stress is acknowledged as a chief reason for divorce.
The job went to one of his chief rivals.
leading
Britain's future as a leading industrial nation depends on investment.
main
best
He was the best player in the world for most of the 1950s.
first
The first priority for development is to defeat inflation.
highest
greatest
top
He was the top student in physics.
prime
Political stability is a prime concern.
capital
principal
Their principal concern is that of winning the next election.
dominant
She was a dominant figure in the film industry.
cardinal
The cardinal rule is to do everything you can to satisfy the customer.
paramount
The welfare of the children must be of paramount importance.
Opposites
lowest
,
lesser
, subordinate,
inferior
,
supplementary
,
unimportant
2 (adjective)
Definition
fundamental or basic
our primary needs of air, food and water
Synonyms
basic
Access to justice is a basic right.
essential
Two essential elements must be proven: motive and opportunity.
radical
the radical differences between them
fundamental
the fundamental principles of democracy
ultimate
the ultimate cause of what's happened
underlying
To stop a problem you have to understand its underlying causes.
elemental
the elemental theory of music
bog-standard (informal)
3 (adjective)
Definition
first in importance
the primary cause of the disease
Synonyms
major
We heard extracts from three of his major works.
chief
main
My main concern now is to protect the children.
principal
key
foremost
He was one of the world's foremost scholars.
Opposites
secondary
,
subsequent
,
ensuing
4 (adjective)
Definition
being the first stage
Synonyms
elementary
Literacy now includes elementary computer skills.
simple
The job itself had been simple enough.
introductory
an introductory course in religion and theology
rudimentary
He had only a rudimentary knowledge of French.
5 (adjective)
Definition
first in position or time, as in a series
Synonyms
earliest
the earliest confirmed case of swine flu
beginning
original
The Dayaks were the original inhabitants of Borneo.
initial
The initial reaction has been excellent.
aboriginal
The country's aboriginal people have been marginalized and forgotten.
primitive
primitive birds from the dinosaur era
pristine
primal
Yeats's remarks about folklore and the primal religion
primordial
Twenty million years ago this was dense primordial forest.
primeval
a vast expanse of primeval swamp
Additional synonyms
in the sense of aboriginal
Definition
existing in a place from the earliest known period
The country's aboriginal people have been marginalized and forgotten.
Synonyms
indigenous,
first,
earliest,
original,
primary,
ancient,
native,
primitive,
pristine,
primordial,
primeval,
autochthonous
in the sense of best
Definition
most excellent of a particular group, category, etc.
He was the best player in the world for most of the 1950s.
Synonyms
finest,
leading,
top,
chief,
supreme,
principal,
first,
foremost,
superlative,
pre-eminent,
unsurpassed,
most accomplished,
most skilful,
most excellent,
golden,
outstanding
in the sense of cardinal
Definition
fundamentally important
The cardinal rule is to do everything you can to satisfy the customer.
Synonyms
principal,
first,
highest,
greatest,
leading,
important,
chief,
main,
prime,
central,
key,
essential,
primary,
fundamental,
paramount,
foremost,
pre-eminent
Synonyms of 'primary'
primary
Explore 'primary' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of dominant
Definition
main or chief
She was a dominant figure in the film industry.
Synonyms
main,
chief,
primary,
outstanding,
principal,
prominent,
influential,
prevailing,
paramount,
prevalent,
predominant,
pre-eminent
in the sense of elemental
the elemental theory of music
Synonyms
basic,
essential,
principal,
fundamental,
elementary
in the sense of essential
Definition
basic or fundamental
Two essential elements must be proven: motive and opportunity.
Synonyms
fundamental,
main,
basic,
radical,
key,
principal,
constitutional,
cardinal,
inherent,
elementary,
innate,
hard-wired,
intrinsic,
elemental,
immanent
in the sense of first
Definition
rated, graded, or ranked above all other levels
The first priority for development is to defeat inflation.
Synonyms
foremost,
highest,
greatest,
leading,
head,
ruling,
chief,
prime,
supreme,
principal,
paramount,
overriding,
pre-eminent
in the sense of foremost
Definition
first in time, place, or importance
He was one of the world's foremost scholars.
Synonyms
leading,
best,
first,
top,
highest,
front,
chief,
prime,
primary,
supreme,
initial,
most important,
principal,
paramount,
inaugural,
pre-eminent,
headmost
in the sense of fundamental
Definition
essential or primary
the fundamental principles of democracy
Synonyms
central,
first,
most important,
prime,
key,
necessary,
basic,
essential,
primary,
vital,
radical,
principal,
cardinal,
integral,
indispensable,
intrinsic
in the sense of initial
Definition
of or at the beginning
The initial reaction has been excellent.
Synonyms
opening,
first,
early,
earliest,
beginning,
primary,
maiden,
inaugural,
commencing,
introductory,
embryonic,
incipient,
inchoate,
inceptive
in the sense of introductory
Definition
serving as an introduction
an introductory course in religion and theology
Synonyms
preliminary,
elementary,
first,
early,
initial,
inaugural,
preparatory,
initiatory,
prefatory,
precursory
in the sense of leading
Definition
principal or primary
Britain's future as a leading industrial nation depends on investment.
Synonyms
principal,
top,
major,
main,
first,
highest,
greatest,
ruling,
chief,
prime,
key,
primary,
supreme,
most important,
outstanding,
governing,
superior,
dominant,
foremost,
pre-eminent,
unsurpassed,
number one
in the sense of main
Definition
chief or principal
My main concern now is to protect the children.
Synonyms
chief,
leading,
major,
prime,
head,
special,
central,
particular,
necessary,
essential,
premier,
primary,
vital,
critical,
crucial,
supreme,
outstanding,
principal,
cardinal,
paramount,
foremost,
predominant,
pre-eminent,
must-have
Additional synonyms
in the sense of original
Definition
first or earliest
The Dayaks were the original inhabitants of Borneo.
Synonyms
first,
earliest,
early,
initial,
aboriginal,
primitive,
pristine,
primordial,
primeval,
autochthonous
in the sense of paramount
Definition
of the greatest importance
The welfare of the children must be of paramount importance.
Synonyms
principal,
prime,
first,
chief,
main,
capital,
primary,
supreme,
outstanding,
superior,
dominant,
cardinal,
foremost,
eminent,
predominant,
pre-eminent
in the sense of primal
Definition
of basic causes or origins
Yeats's remarks about folklore and the primal religion
Synonyms
earliest,
prime,
original,
primary,
first,
initial,
primitive,
pristine,
primordial
in the sense of prime
Definition
first in importance
Political stability is a prime concern.
Synonyms
main,
leading,
chief,
central,
major,
ruling,
key,
senior,
primary,
supreme,
principal,
ultimate,
cardinal,
paramount,
overriding,
foremost,
predominant,
pre-eminent,
number-one (informal)
in the sense of primeval
Definition
of the earliest age of the world
a vast expanse of primeval swamp
Synonyms
earliest,
old,
original,
ancient,
primitive,
first,
early,
pristine,
primal,
prehistoric,
primordial
in the sense of primitive
Definition
of or belonging to the beginning
primitive birds from the dinosaur era
Synonyms
early,
first,
earliest,
original,
primary,
elementary,
pristine,
primordial,
primeval
in the sense of primordial
Definition
existing at or from the beginning
Twenty million years ago this was dense primordial forest.
Synonyms
primeval,
primitive,
first,
earliest,
pristine,
primal,
prehistoric
in the sense of principal
Definition
first in importance, rank, or value
Their principal concern is that of winning the next election.
Synonyms
main,
leading,
chief,
prime,
first,
highest,
controlling,
strongest,
capital,
key,
essential,
primary,
most important,
dominant,
arch,
cardinal,
paramount,
foremost,
pre-eminent
in the sense of pristine
Definition
of or involving the original, unchanged, and unspoilt period or state
Synonyms
original,
first,
earliest,
former,
primary,
initial,
primitive,
primal,
primordial,
primeval
in the sense of radical
Definition
searching or thorough
the radical differences between them
Synonyms
fundamental,
natural,
basic,
essential,
native,
constitutional,
organic,
profound,
innate,
deep-seated,
thoroughgoing,
hard-wired
Additional synonyms
in the sense of rudimentary
He had only a rudimentary knowledge of French.
Synonyms
basic,
fundamental,
elementary,
early,
primary,
initial,
introductory
in the sense of simple
Definition
easy to understand or do
The job itself had been simple enough.
Synonyms
easy,
straightforward,
not difficult,
light,
elementary,
manageable,
effortless,
painless,
uncomplicated,
undemanding,
easy-peasy (slang)
in the sense of top
Definition
at, of, or being the top
He was the top student in physics.
Synonyms
leading,
best,
first,
highest,
greatest,
lead,
head,
prime,
finest,
crowning,
crack (informal),
elite,
superior,
dominant,
foremost,
pre-eminent
in the sense of ultimate
Definition
fundamental or essential
the ultimate cause of what's happened
Synonyms
fundamental,
basic,
primary,
radical,
elemental
in the sense of underlying
Definition
fundamental
To stop a problem you have to understand its underlying causes.