Library / English Dictionary

PRIMARILY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (adverb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

For the most part

Example:

he is mainly interested in butterflies

Synonyms:

chiefly; in the main; mainly; primarily; principally

Classified under:

Adverbs

Pertainym:

primary (of first rank or importance or value; direct and immediate rather than secondary)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Of primary import

Example:

it was in the first place a local matter

Synonyms:

in the first place; primarily

Classified under:

Adverbs

Antonym:

secondarily (of secondary import)

Pertainym:

primary (of first rank or importance or value; direct and immediate rather than secondary)

Credits

 Context examples: 

It affects primarily teenagers and young adults.

(Aggressive NK-Cell Leukemia, NCI Thesaurus)

N-Nitrosodi-n-butylamine is primarily used in laboratory research to induce tumors in experimental animals, but is also used as an intermediate in the synthesis of di-n-butylhydrazine.

(N-Nitrosodiethanolamine, NCI Thesaurus)

A malignant neoplasm primarily composed of a spindle cell stroma.

(Myoepithelial Carcinoma of the Mouse Mammary Gland, NCI Thesaurus/MMHCC)

It is primarily a neoplasm of adults.

(Myeloproliferative Neoplasm, NCI Thesaurus)

Mutations in SETD1A have primarily been found in people with schizophrenia, suggesting that this rare gene variation might hold important clues to the underlying disease process.

(Schizophrenia risk gene linked to cognitive deficits in mice, National Institutes of Health)

The researchers found that a temperature difference between inside and outside has a remarkably small effect on how well a room is ventilated when ventilation is primarily driven by wind.

(Wind more effective than cold air at cooling rooms naturally, University of Cambridge)

Less common isolated presentations, primarily in older adults, include nausea and vomiting, diaphoresis, and unexplained fatigue.

(Atypical Coronary Artery Disease Symptom, NCI Thesaurus/ACC)

Arsenic compounds are primarily used in wood preservation.

(Arsenic Compound, NCI Thesaurus)

Angelica seed oil is used primarily in aromatherapy.

(Angelica Seed Oil, NCI Thesaurus)

I lowered the gun and stepped to the corner of the cabin, primarily to relieve the tension on my nerves and to make a new start, and incidentally to be closer.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)