primary

primary

adjective

Definition of PRIMARY

1

coming before all others in importance <the primary concern for many house hunters is the asking price>

Synonyms arch, big, capital, cardinal, central, chief, dominant, first, grand, great, greatest, highest, key, leading, main, master, number one (also No. 1), numero uno, overbearing, overmastering, overriding, paramount, predominant, preeminent, premier, primal, primary, principal, prior, sovereign (also sovran), supreme

Related Words distinguished, eminent, illustrious, noble, notable, noteworthy, outstanding, prestigious, signal, star, stellar, superior; high-level, senior, top; important, influential, major, mighty, momentous, significant; incomparable, matchless, unequaled (or unequalled), unparalleled, unsurpassed; celebrated, famed, famous, renowned

Near Antonyms inconsequential, inconsiderable, insignificant, minor, negligible, slight, trifling, trivial, unimportant; collateral, inferior, secondary, subordinate, subsidiary

Antonyms last, least

2

done or working without something else coming in between <a crop failure that was the primary cause of the famine>

Synonyms firsthand, immediate, primary, unmediated

Related Words clinical, empirical (also empiric); efficient, proximate; hands-on

Antonyms indirect, secondhand

3

highest in rank or authority <the movie's primary screenwriter>

Synonyms chief, commanding, first, foremost, high, lead, leading, preeminent, premier, presiding, primary, prime, principal, supereminent, supreme, top

Related Words high-level, senior; controlling, directing, managing, officiating, overseeing, regnant, reigning, ruling, supervisory; main, major, paramount, predominant, predominate, sovereign (also sovran); ascendant (also ascendent), dominant, grand, superior, topmost, upmost, upper, uppermost

Near Antonyms ancillary, inferior, last, less, lesser, lower, lowly, second, secondary, subordinate, subsidiary; assistant, assisting, coadjutor, deputy, junior, under

4

coming before the main part or item usually to introduce or prepare for what follows <a few minutes of primary instruction in the use of our diving gear before we actually got into the water>

Synonyms beginning, introductory, precursory, prefatory, prelim, prelusive, preparative, preparatory, primary

Related Words introducing, prefacing, preparing, readying; premonitory, warning; basic, elementary, fundamental; ahead, early, former, preceding, previous, prior

Near Antonyms after, behind, following, subsequent