primeval

American

[prahy-mee-vuhl] / praɪˈmi vəl /

Or primaeval

adjective

of or relating to the first age or ages, especially of the world.

primeval forms of life.

Synonyms:

pristine, primordial, primary

primeval British

/ praɪˈmiːvəl /

adjective

of or belonging to the first age or ages, esp of the world

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Related Words

See prime.

Other Word Forms

primevally adverb

Etymology

Origin of primeval

First recorded in 1765–75; from Latin prīmaev(us) “young” ( prīm(us) prime + aev(um) age + -us adjective suffix) + -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.

With a single, in-block cam, one timing chain and two valves per cylinder, Godzilla is so primitive it’s practically primeval.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 6, 2026

For example, how much primeval forest has been cleared for an agricultural product or how the land was previously used.

From Science Daily • Apr. 18, 2024

The primeval compulsion inside him that he can’t name flares.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 7, 2023

In Mesoamerican myth, the ancient monster Cipactli, part crocodilian, part fish or toad, floats in primeval waters, like the Hindu snake of residue, Sheshanaga.

From New York Times • Feb. 16, 2023

Yossarian was alone in a ponderous, primeval lull in which everything green looked black and everything else was imbued with the color of pus.

From "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller

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