# primary

/ˈpɹaɪˌmɛɹi/ (US) · /pɹˈaɪməɹi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/primary
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. most important

adjective · CEFR B1 · General-service

the most important or main thing in a situation.

For teachers: of chief importance; principal or main.

- Our primary goal is to finish the project before the deadline.
- The primary concern for the board of directors was the long-term sustainability of the new environmental policy.

### 2. first in a series

adjective · CEFR B2 · Academic

happening first in a process or series of events.

For teachers: earliest in time or order of development.

- The researchers looked at the primary causes of the problem.
- The primary stage of the geological survey focused on identifying mineral deposits near the surface.

### 3. early education

adjective · CEFR A2

relating to the education of children between the ages of about five and eleven.

For teachers: relating to or denoting the first stage of formal education.

- She has been a primary school teacher for over ten years.
- The government announced a significant increase in funding for primary education to improve literacy rates among young children.

### 4. political election

noun · CEFR B2 · American English

an election where people choose which person will represent a political party in a later election.

For teachers: a preliminary election to appoint delegates or a candidate for a principal election.

- The senator won the primary and will run for president in November.
- Voter turnout during the state primary was unexpectedly high, suggesting a shift in the political landscape before the general election.

### 5. to challenge a politician

verb · CEFR C1 · American English · Informal

to run against a politician from your own party to try to take their place.

For teachers: to challenge an incumbent for their party's nomination in a primary election.

- The local leader was worried that a younger candidate might primary him.
- The incumbent representative faced a difficult campaign after a more radical member of the party decided to primary her.

### 6. medical source

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

describing the place where a disease or health problem first started.

For teachers: relating to the initial site of a disease or the first stage of medical care.

- The doctor identified the primary tumor in the patient's lung.
- Primary healthcare providers serve as the first point of contact within the medical system for most patients.

## Examples

- She won the primary and will now run for governor.
- Voters in the state primary must decide which candidate has the best chance of winning the general election in November.
- The candidate's shift toward more moderate policies during the general election contrasted sharply with the ideological rhetoric used to secure the base during the primary.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.