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.
Global companies have cut thousands of jobs after investing heavily in AI, with many, primarily tech firms, pointing to higher efficiencies from the technology's rapid adoption. — Arkansas Online, 20 Oct. 2026 Open enrollment for Medicare, the nationwide federal health insurance program primarily for those aged 65 and older, has started. — ABC News, 20 Oct. 2026 While invoice factoring focuses primarily on accounts receivable, invoice financing, on the other hand, can apply to various asset categories, including receivables, inventory, equipment and, in some cases, real estate. — Andrew Coon, Forbes.com, 20 Oct. 2026 Items included primarily sports cards and Pokémon cards, as well as one-of-one pieces. — Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 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
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Primarily.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/primarily. Accessed 27 Oct. 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
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