primarily
PREYE-muh-ruh-lee
Primarily (adv) means Mainly, or first and foremost. Example: “The course is primarily aimed at beginners.”
adv
1
Mainly, or first and foremost.
"But now a study has shown that most cancers are primarily caused by bad luck rather than poor lifestyle choices or defective DNA."
— Sarah Knapton, Most cancers are caused by bad luck not genes or lifestyle, say scientists (2015)
"Some Gold Cups are won primarily with class, others with stamina."
— Keith Melrose, Our leading tipsters give their fancy for the Cheltenham Gold Cup (2019)
"The course is primarily aimed at beginners."
"She was hired primarily for her writing skills."
"Zika virus disease is caused by a virus transmitted primarily by Aedes mosquitoes, which bite during the day."
— , Zika virus (2018)
"The charity works primarily with young people who have left school early."
How to use primarily
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMostly, or above all else.
Common pairings
primarily due to
primarily focused on
used primarily for
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Etymology
From primary plus the adverb-forming suffix -ly.
Synonyms
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mainly
chiefly
mostly
principally
largely
predominantly
first and foremost
in the main
in the first place
Antonyms
secondarily
Related words
Rhymes for primarily
See all rhymes for primarily →Frequently asked questions
What does “primarily” mean?
The word “primarily” means mainly, or first and foremost. In plain terms, mostly, or above all else.
How do you pronounce “primarily”?
“Primarily” is pronounced PREYE-muh-ruh-lee (/pɹaɪˈmɛɹ.əli/ in IPA).
How do you use “primarily” in a sentence?
Here is “primarily” used in a sentence: “The course is primarily aimed at beginners.”
What part of speech is “primarily”?
“Primarily” is an adverb.
Is “primarily” a common word?
“Primarily” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between primarily and mainly?
The two are very close and often interchangeable, both meaning "for the most part." Primarily leans slightly toward "first and foremost" or "in the first place," stressing the leading reason or purpose. Mainly simply stresses the largest share. In everyday use you can usually swap one for the other.
Does primarily mean only?
No. Primarily means mainly or chiefly, leaving room for other, lesser factors. If a shop primarily sells books, books are its main trade, but it may also sell cards or coffee. Use "only," "solely," or "exclusively" when you mean something is the single, sole thing involved.
What is an example of primarily in a sentence?
"The museum is primarily funded by donations" means donations are the main source, though not necessarily the only one. Similarly, "she moved abroad primarily for work" signals that work was the leading reason among possibly several. It flags the chief factor while still allowing others.
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