primarily

American  

[prahy-mair-uh-lee, -mer-, prahy-mer-uh-lee, -mer-uh-] / praɪˈmɛər ə li, -ˈmɛr-, ˈpraɪ mɛr ə li, -mər ə- /

adverb

1. essentially; mostly; chiefly; principally.

   They live primarily from farming.

2. in the first instance; at first; originally.

   Primarily a doctor, he later became a lawyer.

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primarily British  

/ ˈpraɪmərəlɪ /

adverb

1. principally; chiefly; mainly

2. at first; originally

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Etymology

Origin of primarily

First recorded in 1610–20; primary + -ly

Example Sentences

Reaching Uranus is difficult primarily because of its extreme distance.

From Science Daily • Apr. 3, 2026

Globalstar primarily uses its satellites to connect phones and other devices in areas where coverage is minimal.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 2, 2026

The USDA’s Prospective Plantings report is based primarily on surveys conducted during the first two weeks of March, reflecting growers’ plans at that time.

From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026

Throughout their discography, Irreversible Entanglements have seamlessly incorporated electronic elements such as synthesizers and modern postproduction into many of their compositions, which primarily feature otherwise organic instrumentation and textures.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 31, 2026

Although Michelangelo Buonarroti is perhaps best known for his paintings of the Sistine Chapel in Rome, he always considered himself a sculptor, and primarily a sculptor of marble.

From "From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler" by E.L. Konigsburg