primrose
noun
any plant of the genus Primula, as P. vulgaris English primrose, of Europe, having yellow flowers, or P. sinensis Chinese primrose, of China, having flowers in a variety of colors.
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primrose
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Primrose
PrimrosenounArchibald Philip, 5th Earl of Rosebery. Rosebery, Archibald Philip Primrose, 5th Earl of.
primrose
1 American
[prim-rohz]
/ ˈprɪmˌroʊz /
noun
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primroses
plural
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any plant of the genus Primula, as P. vulgaris English primrose, of Europe, having yellow flowers, or P. sinensis Chinese primrose, of China, having flowers in a variety of colors.
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pale yellow.
adjective
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of or relating to the primrose.
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Also primrosed abounding in primroses.
a primrose garden.
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of a pale yellow.
Primrose
2
American
[prim-rohz]
/ ˈprɪmˌroʊz /
noun
primrose
British
/ ˈprɪmˌrəʊz /
noun
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any of various temperate primulaceous plants of the genus Primula, esp P. vulgaris of Europe, which has pale yellow flowers
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short for evening primrose
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Also called: primrose yellow. a light to moderate yellow, sometimes with a greenish tinge
adjective
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of, relating to, or abounding in primroses
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of the colour primrose
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pleasant or gay
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of primrose
1375–1425; late Middle English primerose < Medieval Latin prīma rosa first rose
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.
See Examples For:
"You can't argue with a primrose, they're absolutely glorious... red campions will flower all year round, and they are just so beneficial to all sorts of insects and wildlife," she said.
From BBC ● Apr. 3, 2026
Last weekend, visitors walking through Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and nearby areas found tall, bright sunflowers, deep pink desert sand-verbena, basket evening primrose and even elusive desert lilies, which thrilled photographers like myself.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 30, 2025
At field sites in eastern Washington, the researchers collected scent samples from pale evening primrose flowers.
From Science Daily ● Feb. 8, 2024
Compounds called nitrate radicals, which can be abundant in nighttime urban air, severely degrade the scent emitted by the pale evening primrose, reducing visits from pollinating hawk moths, researchers reported in Science on Thursday.
From New York Times ● Feb. 8, 2024
I start a small fire in the outdoor fireplace, wrap the primrose and artichoke in maple leaves, and clip some young shoots of a pokeweed.
From "On the Far Side of the Mountain" by Jean Craighead George
White now volunteers with the charity at Primrose Hill in Sheffield, helping to reduce food waste while offering a space for conversation and connection.
From BBC ● Jul. 17, 2026
Andy Primrose, who runs a small hostel on Ulva, said the bumper year had boosted small businesses on the island.
From BBC ● May 30, 2026
The Lescoulies’ cows were in Venice; a Mr. Martin kept his on Primrose Avenue in Hollywood, where the early farmhouse was lately priced at about $2 million.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 14, 2026
Dr Primrose Freestone, an associate professor in clinical microbiology at the University of Leicester, says it can lead to symptoms for what is known as sick building syndrome.
From BBC ● Aug. 31, 2025
Not since her week in Primrose Hill, typing out the novella, and what a foolish excitement that seemed now.
From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan
Duke of Burgundy caterpillars only eat the leaves of cowslips and primroses, and only when the plants are grown in very specific conditions.
From BBC ● Jun. 10, 2026
After the long British winter, creamy primroses and pink campions push out from the banks.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 11, 2026
Add cold-season plantings like primroses, pansies, heather and cyclamen to pots and window boxes.
From Seattle Times ● Jan. 2, 2024
Her eye landed on the perfect bloom for a new customer: fuchsia-colored primroses, vivid and lush, ideal for brightening an austere corner.
From New York Times ● Aug. 10, 2022
A blue powdering of forget-me-nots and fine, fat yellow primroses punctuated the green of the slope as the two children walked up the hill toward the Frobishers’ little mausoleum.
From "The Graveyard Book" by Neil Gaiman
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.
