primarily
Americanadverb
-
essentially; mostly; chiefly; principally.
They live primarily from farming.
-
in the first instance; at first; originally.
Primarily a doctor, he later became a lawyer.
adverb
-
principally; chiefly; mainly
-
at first; originally
Etymology
Origin of primarily
Explanation
Primarily means "for the most part." If in the summer, you primarily work at a restaurant, this is the thing you do most, though you also might hang out with friends, exercise, and read books. You can use the adverb primarily any time you'd use the word "mainly" — today, many people rely primarily on the Internet to get their news. This doesn't mean they never read newspapers or watch television news, but most of the time, they learn about current events online. The Latin root of primarily is primus, which means first — most important, most likely, or what you choose before anything else.
Vocabulary lists containing primarily
The SAT: Language of the Test, List 3
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Language of Standardized Tests, List 2
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The ACT: The Language of the Test, List 2
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Apparel companies face a surge in returns, with one seeing a 50% increase, primarily due to customers sizing down from weight-loss drugs.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 5, 2026
Because existing drugs haven’t been able to target this protein, treatment for pancreatic cancer has primarily relied on toxic drugs that act more like blunt instruments than precise tools.
From Science Daily • Jun. 4, 2026
But Florida experienced an outbreak in 2016 that primarily impacted deer, and was eliminated the following year, according to the US Department of Agriculture.
From Barron's • Jun. 4, 2026
“They are primarily a low-margin grocery retailer, and we think the market is pricing in them exceeding all-time highs in profitability,” he said.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 4, 2026
Along the way I encountered values that I accepted, primarily those that reinforced my early religious and community mores.
From "Bad Boy" by Walter Dean Myers
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.
