Primary
'praɪməri
Definitions
2 meaningsFirst in order of time or development; fundamental; most important.
'praɪməri
First or most important
Our primary concern is the safety of the children.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're choosing between two things, and one is *the most important* or *the very first*. That's primary. Like, 'My primary goal is to finish my homework before I play video games!'
👶 For kids: The most important or the first one.
More Examples
The primary colors are red, blue, and yellow.
The primary focus of the meeting was the new marketing strategy.
How It's Used
"Primary school education forms the foundation of a child's learning."
"The primary election determines the candidates for the general election."
"The primary symptom of the disease is a fever."
A preliminary election to appoint delegates to a party conference or to select the candidates for a general election.
'praɪməri
An election to select a party's candidate
Voters in the state will participate in the upcoming primary election.
💡 Simply: Imagine political parties have a 'tryout' to pick their best player for the real game. That 'tryout' is called a primary. For instance, 'The state held its primary last week to determine the candidates for the upcoming election.'
👶 For kids: A special vote to pick who will be the candidate for a team, like the election.
More Examples
The senator won the primary by a landslide victory.
Many young people are encouraged to vote in the primary.
How It's Used
"The candidate won the Democratic primary."
Synonyms
Chief
Essential
Foremost
Fundamental
Leading
Main
Caucus
Idioms & expressions
primary source
A document or physical object which was written or created during the time under study.
"A diary is a primary source for understanding someone's life."
From Latin primarius, meaning 'of the first rank' or 'principal,' derived from primus ('first').
Historically used to denote the first or most important, reflecting a hierarchical view.
Memory tip
Think of 'prime' as the best, therefore primary is first and most important.