primal
Americanadjective
-
first; original; primeval.
primal eras before the appearance of life on earth.
-
of first importance; fundamental.
the primal resources of a nation.
adjective
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first or original
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chief or most important
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of primal
From the Medieval Latin word prīmālis, dating back to 1535–45. See prime, -al 1
Explanation
The adjective primal describes something that's essential or basic, like the primal urge to protect yourself and your family from harm. The Latin root of primal is primus, which means first. If your friend talks about his primal self, he means the most basic, important part of who he is. You can think of this as a first priority, just as the primal urges of all animals is survival. Primal can also describe something that's original, or at its earliest stage, like a primal or primeval forest, the most ancient example of that kind of terrain.
Vocabulary lists containing primal
The Lightning Thief
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Vocabulary from the Introduction to "Reality is Broken" by Jane McGonigal
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"Democracy in America, Vol. 1" by Alexis de Tocqueville, Introduction–Chapter 5
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
We changed the band’s name in 1964 to the Spiders and played primal rock, rehearsing five hours a day.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026
It’s not just the lack of discovery, though that is critical, maybe because it scratches those deep primal hunter/gatherer itches.
From Salon ● Oct. 4, 2026
Dance movies marvelously translate primal emotions into motion, the human body becoming a supple instrument deftly communicating the pain, ecstasy and confusion of being alive.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 25, 2026
The hovering putti Titian portrays seem, like Europa, disoriented by the powers of a primal world in which Zeus is like an untamed force of nature, beyond human control or understanding.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026
The ocean here felt different—still powerful, but freezing, slow, and primal.
From "The Son of Neptune" by Rick Riordan
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
