primary
gb/pɹˈaɪmˌɛɹi/ us/pɹˈaɪmˌɛɹi/
A2
English
~ 1300
elsődleges, fő, legfontosabb, első, kezdeti, általános iskolai, előválasztás, alapszín
B1
1
Usage pattern:
[something] is the primary [thing]
Her primary concern is the safety of the children.
Számára a gyerekek biztonsága az elsődleges szempont.
The primary goal of this project is to reduce costs.
A projekt elsődleges célja a költségek csökkentése.
Water is the primary ingredient in this recipe.
Education should be our primary focus.
The primary reason for the delay was bad weather.
Learner examples
My primary job is to help customers.
A fő feladatom az, hogy segítsek az ügyfeleknek.
The primary reason is clear.
A fő ok egyértelmű.
Food is a primary need for people.
Safety is our primary goal.
The primary color is red.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'primary' with 'primitive', which has a very different meaning related to being early in development or basic.
Meaning
Most important or main
Collocations
primary goal
|primary reason
|primary focus
|primary source
|primary responsibility
Synonyms
main (Slightly less formal; very common in speech.)
|
chief (Often used in formal or official contexts.)
Antonyms
secondary (Indicates something less important or of lower priority.)
Themes
priority
|importance
|organization
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Most important or main.
Most important; having the highest rank, value, or priority.
B1
2
Usage pattern:
the primary [stage/phase/school]
Primary school starts at age five in many countries.
Sok országban ötéves korban kezdődik az általános iskola.
The disease was caught in its primary stage.
A betegséget a kezdeti stádiumában fedezték fel.
We used a primary source for our research.
The primary phase of the project will take six months.
Learner examples
I went to primary school in my town.
A városomban jártam általános iskolába.
This is the primary step in cooking pasta.
Ez az első lépés a tésztafőzésben.
We are in the primary stage of the plan.
A primary source is from the time of the event.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'primary' with 'primitive' when talking about early stages.
Meaning
Earliest in time or order
Collocations
primary stage
|primary source
|primary school
Synonyms
initial (Emphasizes the very beginning of a process.)
Antonyms
final (Refers to the last stage or end point.)
Themes
time
|order
|education
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Happening first in time or order.
Earliest or first in order, stage, or development.
NOUN
B2
3
előválasztás
B2
Usage pattern:
vote in a primary
She won the state’s presidential primary by a large margin.
Nagy fölénnyel megnyerte az államban tartott elnökjelölti előválasztást.
The primary will be held next Tuesday.
Az előválasztást jövő kedden tartják.
Several candidates dropped out after losing the primaries.
Learner examples
He won the primary in his state.
Megnyerte az előválasztást az államában.
The primary is next month.
Az előválasztás a jövő hónapban lesz.
I will vote in the primary election.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'primary' as a noun with 'primary school'. Context usually clarifies meaning.
Meaning
Election to choose party candidate
Collocations
presidential primary
|state primary
|win a primary
Synonyms
preselection (Less common; more technical term for choosing candidates.)
Themes
politics
|elections
Definition
A vote to choose who will represent a political party in an election.
An election held to choose a political party's candidate for a later general election.
NOUN
A2
4
alapszín
B1
Artists start by learning about the three primary colors.
A művészek azzal kezdik, hogy megismerik a három alapszínt.
Red is a primary color.
A piros alapszín.
Mixing two primary colors makes a secondary color.
Learner examples
Blue is a primary color.
A kék alapszín.
Red and yellow are primary colors.
A piros és a sárga alapszínek.
We learn about primary colors in art class.
Meaning
Basic color that makes others
Collocations
primary colors
Themes
art
|design
|arts_entertainment
|education
Definition
A basic color, like red, blue, or yellow, that can make other colors when mixed.
One of a set of colors (red, blue, yellow) from which other colors can be made by mixing.
Grammar
Dictionary form
primary
IPA
GB/pɹˈaɪmˌɛɹi/
US/pɹˈaɪmˌɛɹi/
Syllables & stress
primary (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (primary)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: primary
Noun
- Base: primary
- Plural: primaries
Word family
Expressions
primary care
1/pɹˈaɪmˌɛɹi kˈɛɹ/
fixed phrase
Basic medical care given first
Basic health care given by doctors or nurses who see patients first before specialists.
Examples
- Primary care doctors can treat most common illnesses.
- She works in a clinic that provides primary care.
primary school
1/pɹˈaɪmˌɛɹi skˈul/
fixed phrase
School for children before secondary level
A school for young children, usually between ages 5 and 11, before they go to secondary school.
Examples
- She teaches math at a local primary school.
- I have known him since we were in primary school.
primary source
1/pɹˈaɪmˌɛɹi sˈɔɹs/
fixed phrase
Original document or evidence from period studied
An original document or piece of evidence from the time you are studying.
Examples
- The diary is a valuable primary source for historians.
- We used photographs as primary sources in our project.