primary

US /ˈpraɪ.mer.i/
UK /ˈpraɪ.mer.i/
"primary" picture
1.

of chief importance; principal.

:
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The primary goal is to reduce costs.
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Education is a primary concern for parents.
:
chiefmainprincipalforemostfirst
2.

earliest in time or order of development.

:
•
The primary stage of the disease is often asymptomatic.
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The primary colors are red, yellow, and blue.
:
initialfirstearliestoriginalprimitive
1.

a preliminary election to appoint delegates to a party conference or to select candidates for a principal election.

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The candidate won the primary by a narrow margin.
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Voters will head to the polls for the state's primary next month.
:
caucuspreliminary electionnominating election
:
primary stressprimary schoolprimary care