Word
primarily
Phoneticspri·mar·i·ly, stress on the second syllable
US/pɹaɪˈmɛɹəɫi/
UK/pɹaɪmˈɛɹəli/
日本語主に※
Adverb of degree
Definition
adv. mostly or mainly. You use this to show the most important reason or purpose for something.
adv. for the most part; in the first place. Used to indicate the chief or principal factor in a situation.
Examples
“The company sells primarily to young adults.”
“The new community center is primarily used for youth sports, though it occasionally hosts local markets.”
“While the author touches on several historical themes, the book is primarily concerned with the psychological impact of the war on civilian populations.”
Examples
simple
“The company sells primarily to young adults.”
contextual
“The new community center is primarily used for youth sports, though it occasionally hosts local markets.”
complex
“While the author touches on several historical themes, the book is primarily concerned with the psychological impact of the war on civilian populations.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “primarily” in context.
Verb
01. assign primarily
“The tasks were assigned primarily to the most experienced team members.”
verb + adv
02. primarily associate
“People primarily associate the brand with high-quality sports equipment.”
adv + verb
03. primarily base
“The film is primarily based on a true story from the 1920s.”
adv + verb
04. primarily concern
“The new regulations primarily concern small business owners.”
adv + verb
05. primarily consist
“The committee primarily consists of experts from the medical field.”
adv + verb
06. primarily depend
“Success in this role will primarily depend on your communication skills.”
adv + verb
07. primarily design
“This course is primarily designed for beginners with no prior knowledge.”
adv + verb
08. primarily determine
“Your final grade is primarily determined by the end-of-year exam.”
adv + verb
09. primarily develop
“The software was primarily developed for mobile devices.”
adv + verb
10. primarily direct
“The marketing campaign is primarily directed at young adults.”
adv + verb
11. primarily drive
“The increase in sales was primarily driven by the new advertising strategy.”
adv + verb
12. primarily lives
Usage
Typically placed before the adjective, adverb, or prepositional phrase it modifies, or between the auxiliary and main verb.
Real-World Examples
“For many Osun voters, the election is not primarily about Tinubu’s political future.” “These glasses have primarily been found in Madrid, Castilla y León, Galicia, La Rioja and Aragón regions, all of which have issued recalls.” Etymology
From primary + -ly.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/primarily
※ 機械で選んだ訳語です。ネイティブスピーカーによる確認はまだです。
「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0