primary
gb/pɹˈaɪmˌɛɹi/ us/pɹˈaɪmˌɛɹi/
A2
English
~ 1300
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B1
property
1
Most important or main
Most important or main.
Usage pattern:
[something] is the primary [thing]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'primary' with 'primitive', which has a very different meaning related to being early in development or basic.
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.)
Collocations
primary goal
|primary reason
|primary focus
|primary source
|primary responsibility
Themes
priority
|importance
|organization
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Her primary concern is the safety of the children.
- The primary goal of this project is to reduce costs.
- 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.
- The primary reason is clear.
- Food is a primary need for people.
- Safety is our primary goal.
- The primary color is red.
adjective
B1
property
2
Earliest in time or order
Happening first in time or order.
Usage pattern:
the primary [stage/phase/school]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'primary' with 'primitive' when talking about early stages.
Synonyms
initial (Emphasizes the very beginning of a process.)
Antonyms
final (Refers to the last stage or end point.)
Collocations
primary stage
|primary source
|primary school
Themes
time
|order
|education
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Primary school starts at age five in many countries.
- The disease was caught in its primary stage.
- 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.
- This is the primary step in cooking pasta.
- We are in the primary stage of the plan.
- A primary source is from the time of the event.
Noun
B2
event
3
Election to choose party candidate
A vote to choose who will represent a political party in an election.
Usage pattern:
vote in a primary
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'primary' as a noun with 'primary school'. Context usually clarifies meaning.
Synonyms
preselection (Less common; more technical term for choosing candidates.)
Collocations
presidential primary
|state primary
|win a primary
Themes
politics
|elections
Examples
- She won the state’s presidential primary by a large margin.
- The primary will be held next Tuesday.
- Several candidates dropped out after losing the primaries.
Learner examples
- He won the primary in his state.
- The primary is next month.
- I will vote in the primary election.
Noun
A2
entity
4
Basic color that makes others
A basic color, like red, blue, or yellow, that can make other colors when mixed.
Collocations
primary colors
Themes
art
|design
|arts_entertainment
|education
Examples
- Artists start by learning about the three primary colors.
- Red is a primary color.
- Mixing two primary colors makes a secondary color.
Learner examples
- Blue is a primary color.
- Red and yellow are primary colors.
- We learn about primary colors in art class.
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.