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
-
first or original
-
chief or most important
Other Word Forms
- nonprimal adjective
Etymology
Origin of primal
From the Medieval Latin word prīmālis, dating back to 1535–45. See prime, -al 1
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.
It will allow them to think of cinema in a primal manner.
From Los Angeles Times
As he nestles into its body, we see the primal need most animals, including humans, have for touch, for embrace.
From Los Angeles Times
Others think it has to do with the primal fluid of the universe.
From Literature
As societies emerged, we began to develop egos, those brittle parts of our selves taxed with negotiating between our primal urges and the constraints of a civilized order.
"Motherhood can activate insecurity, comparison, and fear of exclusion in ways that feel almost primal."
From BBC
Definitions 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.
