adj
Uncommon
primal
PREYE-muhl
Primal (adj) means existing from the earliest times; original or fundamental. Example: “The documentary explored humanity's primal fear of the dark.”
adj
1
Existing from the earliest times; original or fundamental.
"The documentary explored humanity's primal fear of the dark."
"There's a primal instinct that makes us flinch at loud noises."
How to use primal
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishRelating to our most basic, original instincts or to the very earliest stage of something.
Common pairings
primal instinct
primal fear
primal urge
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Word forms
- Plural
- primals
- Third person singular
- primals
- Past tense
- primaled, primalled
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The documentary explored humanity's _____ fear of the dark.
Etymology
From Latin prīmus ("first") combined with the adjective suffix -al.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for primal
See all rhymes for primal →Frequently asked questions
What does “primal” mean?
The word “primal” means existing from the earliest times; original or fundamental. In plain terms, relating to our most basic, original instincts or to the very earliest stage of something.
How do you pronounce “primal”?
“Primal” is pronounced PREYE-muhl (/ˈpɹaɪməl/ in IPA).
How do you use “primal” in a sentence?
Here is “primal” used in a sentence: “The documentary explored humanity's primal fear of the dark.”
What part of speech is “primal”?
“Primal” is an adjective.
Where does the word “primal” come from?
The word “primal” comes from Latin. From Latin prīmus ("first") combined with the adjective suffix -al.
Is “primal” a common word?
“Primal” is an uncommon word in modern English.
