prime

adjective
UK: /praɪm/
US: /praɪm/

  1. Most important; main.

    1. The prime suspect has been arrested by the police now. [ ] [ ]
    2. Getting enough sleep is of prime importance for students' academic success. [ ] [ ]

Synonyms

chief best prepare peak
prime verb

  1. To prepare someone for a situation or activity.

    1. The coach tried to prime the team before the big game. [ ] [ ]
    2. The speaker primed the audience with a joke before starting his serious talk. [ ] [ ]

  2. To apply a first coat of paint or other coating to a surface.

    1. We need to prime the wall before we paint it blue. [ ] [ ]
    2. Make sure you prime the metal surface properly to prevent rusting in the future. [ ] [ ]
prime noun

  1. The period in someone's life when they are at their best.

    1. He is in his prime now and doing great work. [ ] [ ]
    2. She was a famous dancer in her prime, performing all over the world. [ ] [ ]

Frequently Asked Questions

The phonetic transcription of "prime" is /praɪm/ in British English and /praɪm/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "prime": chief, best, prepare, peak.

Example usage of "prime": "The prime suspect has been arrested by the police now.". More examples on the page.