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primaries

Cultural

State elections of delegates to the nominating convention that chooses a major party's presidential candidate. In some states, delegates are elected by popular vote; in other states, party caucus es or miniconventions choose delegates.

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Primaries occur at different times during the presidential election year, a situation that drags out the process by which parties nominate candidates but allows wide public exposure to candidates and issues.

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.

Dozens of "islanders" ended up being chosen as party candidates during November's primaries.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

Often, it comes down to who their friends are,” he said, noting that endorsements from interest groups and other elected officials are usually more valuable in primaries than general elections.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 9, 2026

That was May 2016, with the GOP primaries still undecided.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 6, 2026

Among the more competitive House primaries in Texas is a rematch between GOP Rep. Tony Gonzales and Brandon Herrera, aka “the AK Guy.”

From Slate • Feb. 21, 2026

As a whole, the general election had been less grueling than the pitched battle of the primaries.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023