Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of noun primary

4 senses of primary

Sense 1
primary, primary election -- (a preliminary election where delegates or nominees are chosen)
       => election -- (a vote to select the winner of a position or political office; "the results of the election will be announced tonight")

Sense 2
primary, primary feather, primary quill -- (one of the main flight feathers projecting along the outer edge of a bird's wing)
       => flight feather, pinion, quill, quill feather -- (any of the larger wing or tail feathers of a bird)

Sense 3
primary -- ((astronomy) a celestial body (especially a star) relative to other objects in orbit around it)
       => celestial body, heavenly body -- (natural objects visible in the sky)

Sense 4
primary coil, primary winding, primary -- (coil forming the part of an electrical circuit such that changing current in it induces a current in a neighboring circuit; "current through the primary coil induces current in the secondary coil")
       => coil -- (reactor consisting of a spiral of insulated wire that introduces inductance into a circuit)

Antonyms of adj primary

5 senses of primary

Sense 1
primary (vs. secondary) -- (of first rank or importance or value; direct and immediate rather than secondary; "primary goals"; "a primary effect"; "primary sources"; "a primary interest")

secondary (vs. primary) -- (being of second rank or importance or value; not direct or immediate; "the stone will be hauled to a secondary crusher"; "a secondary source"; "a secondary issue"; "secondary streams")
        => alternate, alternative, substitute -- (serving or used in place of another; "an alternative plan")
        => auxiliary, subsidiary, supplemental, supplementary -- (functioning in a supporting capacity; "the main library and its auxiliary branches")
        => collateral -- (accompany, concomitant; "collateral target damage from a bombing run")
        => indirect -- (not as a direct effect or consequence; "indirect benefits"; "an indirect advantage")
        => secondhand -- (derived from what is primary or original; not firsthand; "a secondhand report"; "a secondhand account of a memory of something once read"; "most of our knowledge is secondhand")
        => second-string -- (being a replacement or substitute for a regular member of a team; "a second-string pitcher")
        => standby -- (ready for emergency use; "a standby generator"; "a standby crew")
        => thirdhand -- (derived from what is primary or original by two intermediate steps; "a thirdhand report")
        => tributary -- ((of a stream) flowing into a larger stream)
        => utility (prenominal), substitute (prenominal) -- (capable of substituting in any of several positions on a team; "a utility infielder")
        => vicarious -- (experienced at secondhand; "read about mountain climbing and felt vicarious excitement")

Sense 2
primary -- (not derived from or reducible to something else; basic; "a primary instinct")

INDIRECT (VIA underived) -> derived -- (formed or developed from something else; not original; "the belief that classes and organizations are secondary and derived"- John Dewey)

Sense 3
chief (prenominal), main (prenominal), primary (prenominal), principal (prenominal), master (prenominal) -- (most important element; "the chief aim of living"; "the main doors were of solid glass"; "the principal rivers of America"; "the principal example"; "policemen were primary targets"; "the master bedroom"; "a master switch")

INDIRECT (VIA important) -> unimportant -- (not important; "a relatively unimportant feature of the system"; "the question seems unimportant")

Sense 4
elementary, elemental, primary -- (of or being the essential or basic part; "an elementary need for love and nurturing")

INDIRECT (VIA basic) -> incidental, incident -- ((sometimes followed by `to') minor or casual or subordinate in significance or nature or occurring as a chance concomitant or consequence; "incidental expenses"; "the road will bring other incidental advantages"; "extra duties incidental to the job"; "labor problems incidental to a rapid expansion"; "confusion incidental to a quick change")

Sense 5
basal, primary -- (of primary importance)

INDIRECT (VIA essential) -> inessential, unessential -- (not basic or fundamental)

Similarity of adj primary

5 senses of primary

Sense 1
primary (vs. secondary) -- (of first rank or importance or value; direct and immediate rather than secondary; "primary goals"; "a primary effect"; "primary sources"; "a primary interest")
       => capital -- (of primary importance; "our capital concern was to avoid defeat")
       => direct -- (being an immediate result or consequence; "a direct result of the accident")
       => firsthand -- (received directly from a source; "firsthand information")
       => first-string -- (being a regular member of a team; "first-string players")
       => original -- ((of e.g. information) not secondhand or by way of something intermediary; "his work is based on only original, not secondary, sources")
       => particular, special -- (first and most important; "his special interest is music"; "she gets special (or particular) satisfaction from her volunteer work")
          Also See-> essential#2; first#1; original#3

Sense 2
primary -- (not derived from or reducible to something else; basic; "a primary instinct")
       => underived (vs. derived) -- (not derived; primary or simple)

Sense 3
chief (prenominal), main (prenominal), primary (prenominal), principal (prenominal), master (prenominal) -- (most important element; "the chief aim of living"; "the main doors were of solid glass"; "the principal rivers of America"; "the principal example"; "policemen were primary targets"; "the master bedroom"; "a master switch")
       => important (vs. unimportant), of import -- (of great significance or value; "important people"; "the important questions of the day")

Sense 4
elementary, elemental, primary -- (of or being the essential or basic part; "an elementary need for love and nurturing")
       => basic (vs. incidental) -- (pertaining to or constituting a base or basis; "a basic fact"; "the basic ingredients"; "basic changes in public opinion occur because of changes in priorities")

Sense 5
basal, primary -- (of primary importance)
       => essential (vs. inessential) -- (basic and fundamental; "the essential feature")