English Dictionary | Thesaurus | Translator | COBUILD Grammar Patterns | Scrabble | Blog
  • English
  • This page in
    American
    Italiano
    Deutsch
    Español
    Português
    हिंदी
    简体中文
| Sign Up | Log In
 
English
Menu
English Dictionary Thesaurus Translator Grammar Scrabble Blog
  • English
  • This page in
    American
    Italiano
    Deutsch
    Español
    Português
    हिंदी
    简体中文
Sign Up Log In

Definition of 'primary'

Word Frequency

primary

(praɪməri , US -meri )
Word forms: plural primaries
1. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
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.
I don't think young people's primary aim in life is to get drunk.
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
COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers

Video: pronunciation of 'primary'

Word Frequency

primary in British

(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
noun 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
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word origin of 'primary'
C15: from Latin prīmārius of the first rank, principal, from prīmus first
Word Frequency

primary in American

(ˈpraɪˌmɛri ; prīˈmerˌē; ˈpraɪməri ; prīˈmərē)
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 a chain, 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: plural ˈpriˌmaries
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 public office, 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
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Word origin of 'primary'
ME prymary < L primarius < primus, first: see prime

Example sentences containing 'primary'

These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content. Read more…
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&apos;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)Ofsted is a fine body that continues to play a pivotal role in driving up standards in primary and secondary education. Times, Sunday Times (2007)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)

Word Lists

astronomy

Trends of 'primary'

Extremely Common. primary is one of the 1000 most commonly used words in the Collins dictionary

View usage for:

Translations for '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
  • Spanish: primario
  • Swedish: primär
  • Thai: ที่สำคัญที่สุด
  • Turkish: ilk
  • Ukrainian: перший
  • Vietnamese: quan trọng nhất

Translate your text for free

Nearby words of 'primary'

  • primaries
  • primarily
  • primariness
  • primary
  • primary accent
  • primary care
  • primary cell

  • All ENGLISH words that begin with 'P'

Related Terms of 'primary'

  • primary winding
  • primary winding
  • open primary
  • primary care
  • primary cell

  • View more related words

Source

Definition of primary from the Collins English Dictionary

Shall and will

The normal way to express simple future time in English is using the modal verb will followed by the base form of a main verb. The modal verb shall is not used very much in modern English, except in...
Read more about 'Shall and will'
Word of the day:
Anzac
(in World War I) a soldier serving with the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps
See full definition
Apr 25, 2018
Take better control of your finances with these simple steps
Do you find yourself living paycheque to paycheque? Dr Peter Brooks offers his advice to make that money last
Read more
The etymology behind 4 eggs-ellent Springtime words
We’ve explored the diverse etymology of 4 eggs-ellent words associated with spring.
Read more
Up Lit, Alexa Laugh & Meet Me at McDonald’s Hair: March’s Words In The News
Catch up on the latest words in the news this March with Robert Groves.
Read more
Join the Collins community
All the latest wordy news, linguistic insights, offers and competitions every month.
Read more
Scrabble score for 'primary': 14
Latest Word Submissions
courioglot Apr 25, 2018
breakout [sense] Apr 25, 2018
upscale [sense] Apr 25, 2018
Roblox Apr 23, 2018
kill em with kind... Apr 23, 2018
Submit View More
Browse the English Dictionary
  • #
  • A
  • B
  • C
  • D
  • E
  • F
  • G
  • H
  • I
  • J
  • K
  • L
  • M
  • N
  • O
  • P
  • Q
  • R
  • S
  • T
  • U
  • V
  • W
  • X
  • Y
  • Z
View all dictionaries...
  • View more
  • API
  • B2B Partnerships
  • Advertising
  • Word Banks
  • Collins COBUILD
  • Collins ELT
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Contact us
  • Languages
  • English
  • Thesaurus
  • Grammar
  • French
  • German
  • Spanish
  • Italian
  • Chinese
  • Portuguese
  • Hindi
  • Word Lists
  • Word of the Year
  • Scrabble
  • COBUILD Anniversary
© Collins 2018