primary
word
/ˈpɹaɪˌmɛɹi/
PRY-mair-ee
/pɹˈaɪməɹi/
PRY-muh-ree
Definition
Most important or main. It can also describe the first stage in a system, such as primary school or primary elections.
Usage & Nuances
Common in formal and everyday English. Very often used before nouns: 'primary goal', 'primary concern', 'primary source'. In education, 'primary school' means the first years of school. Don't confuse 'primary' with 'primitive': 'primary' means main or first, not basic in a negative sense.
Spanish: principal - primarioPortuguese (BR): principal - primárioPortuguese (PT): principal - primárioChinese (Simplified): 主要的 - 初级的Chinese (Traditional): 主要的 - 初級的Hindi: मुख्य - प्राथमिकArabic: رئيسي - ابتدائيBengali: প্রধান - মুখ্যRussian: основной - главныйJapanese: 主要Vietnamese: chính - chủ yếuKorean: 주요한 - 주된Turkish: birincil - ana - temelUrdu: اہم - بنیادیIndonesian: utama - utama (sekolah) - primer
Example Sentences
Safety is the primary concern here.
basic
Our primary goal is to help students learn.
basic
She teaches at a primary school.
basic
My primary reason for moving was to be closer to family.
natural
That's not our primary focus right now, so let's deal with it later.
natural
In the article, she uses government data as her primary source.
natural