PRIMARILY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does primarily mean? 

• PRIMARILY (adverb)
  The adverb PRIMARILY has 2 senses:

1. for the most part

2. of primary import

  Familiarity information: PRIMARILY used as an adverb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PRIMARILY (adverb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

For the most part

Synonyms:

chiefly; in the main; mainly; primarily; principally

Context example:

he is mainly interested in butterflies

Pertainym:

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

Sense 2

Meaning:

Of primary import

Synonyms:

in the first place; primarily

Context example:

it was in the first place a local matter

Antonym:

secondarily (of secondary import)

Pertainym:

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

 Context examples 

ANK repeats have been identified in over 1700 functionally diverse proteins, primarily from eukaryotes; no common theme among the protein targets has been identified.

(Ankyrin Repeat, NCI Thesaurus)

Lakes and snowmelt-fed streams on Mars formed much later than previously thought possible, according to new findings using data primarily from NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.

(Some Ancient Mars Lakes Came Long After Others, NASA)

An adenoid cystic carcinoma primarily involving the breast.

(Adenoid Cystic Breast Carcinoma, NCI Thesaurus)

And many of Saturn's moons are comprised primarily of ice, as are the particles that form Saturn's rings.

(Possible New Moon Forming Around Saturn, NASA)

They found 101 samples positive for Bacillus, primarily B. subtilis — the type found mixed with other bacteria in many probiotic products.

(Study finds probiotic Bacillus eliminates Staphylococcus bacteria, National Institutes of Health)

Cancer is primarily caused by mutations in certain genes.

(Researchers uncover role of repetitive DNA and protein sequences in tumor evolution, National Institutes of Health)

An antitumor response involves destruction of cancer tumor cells primarily by activated T-cells induced to react to antigens recognized as foreign and expressed by the transformed cells.

(Antitumor Response, NCI Thesaurus)

First, they found that the volunteers’ performance improved primarily during the short rests, and not during typing.

(Brains may use short rest periods to strengthen memories, National Institutes of Health)

A family or group of nitrogen-containing base compounds primarily derived from plant and animal sources.

(Alkaloid, NCI Thesaurus)

N-Nitrosodimethylamine is primarily used in laboratory research to induce tumors in experimental animals.

(N-Nitrosodimethylamine, NCI Thesaurus)