1
a
: first in rank, authority, or significance : principal
a prime example
b
: having the highest quality or value
prime farmland
c
: of the highest grade regularly marketed
—used of meat and especially beef
2
: first in time : original
3
a
: of, relating to, or being a prime number compare relatively prime
b
: having no polynomial factors other than itself and no monomial factors other than 1
a prime polynomial
c
: expressed as a product of prime factors (such as prime numbers and prime polynomials)
a prime factorization
4
: not deriving from something else : primary
primely
adverb
primeness
noun
1
: the most active, thriving, or satisfying stage or period
in the prime of his life
2
: the chief or best individual or part : pick
prime of the flock, and choicest of the stall—
Alexander Pope
Alexander Pope4
5
6
a
: the first note or tone of a musical scale : tonic
b
: the interval between two notes on the same staff degree
7
: the symbol ′ used to distinguish arbitrary characters (such as a and a′), to indicate a specific unit (such as feet or minutes of time or angular measure), or to indicate the derivative of a function (such as p′ or f′(x)) compare double prime
8
a
often capitalized
: the second of the canonical hours
b
: the first hour of the day usually considered either as 6 a.m. or the hour of sunrise
primed; priming
2
3
: to apply the first color, coating, or preparation to
prime a wall
4
a
: to put into working order by filling or charging with something
prime a pump with water
b
: to supply with an essential prerequisite (such as a hormone, nucleic acid, or antigen) for chemical or biological activity
primed female mice with estrogen
5
: to instruct beforehand : coach
primed the witness
6
: to become prime
Synonyms
Examples of prime in a Sentence
Adjective
The wine industry is of prime importance to the California economy.
The police have not yet named the prime suspect in the murder investigation.
The house is expensive because it's in a prime location.
Noun
young college graduates in the prime of life
The interest rate is two percent plus prime.
Verb
She was obviously primed for the questions at the press conference.
Both teams are primed for battle and ready to play.
We sanded and primed the woodwork before painting.
Recent Examples on the Web
Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
Start with the prime beef meatballs, follow with hand cut pasta topped with short rib Bolognese and finish with a showstopper: a flaming meringue torte, singed tableside and then covered in a warm chocolate sauce.
—Kathy A. McDonald, Variety, 5 Nov. 2024
Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 4 Nov. 2024
This energetic and colorful reimagining of the Hitchcock classic finds Shepherd in the prime of her comedic powers, playing splendidly off of Gould as her foil.
—Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 30 Oct. 2024
Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
The weightless product primes your skin, provides coverage, mattifies, and evens your skin tone.
—Mia Meltzer, Rolling Stone, 31 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for prime 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Adjective
Williams was a prime trade candidate following the Jets' acquisition of Adams, and the Steelers jumped on the opportunity to add another receiver.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
Start with the prime beef meatballs, follow with hand cut pasta topped with short rib Bolognese and finish with a showstopper: a flaming meringue torte, singed tableside and then covered in a warm chocolate sauce.
—Kathy A. McDonald, Variety, 5 Nov. 2024
Noun
Millennials will be reaching their own golden years, while today’s teenagers will be in their prime.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 4 Nov. 2024
This energetic and colorful reimagining of the Hitchcock classic finds Shepherd in the prime of her comedic powers, playing splendidly off of Gould as her foil.
—Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 30 Oct. 2024
Verb
If the polls are anything to go by, the 2024 presidential election is primed to be a very close contest between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
The weightless product primes your skin, provides coverage, mattifies, and evens your skin tone.
—Mia Meltzer, Rolling Stone, 31 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for prime
Dictionary Entries Near prime
Cite this Entry
“Prime.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prime. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
prime
1 of 3 noun1
: the first part : the earliest stage
2
: the most vigorous, prosperous, or satisfying stage or period
in the prime of one's life
3
: the best individual or part
4
5
: the symbol ′
prime
2 of 3 adjective1
: first in time : original
2
a
: of, relating to, or being a prime number
b
: expressed as a product of prime factors
the prime factorization of 12 is 2 · 2 · 3
3
a
: first in rank or importance
our prime responsibility
b
: being highest in quality or value
prime farmland
c
: of the highest grade of meat
prime beef
prime
3 of 3 verb
primed; priming
1
: to get ready for firing by putting in priming
prime a rifle
2
: to put a first color or coating on (an unpainted surface)
3
: to put into working order by filling
prime a pump
4
: to make (someone) ready to do something
teams primed to win
Etymology
Noun
Old English prīm "a religious service for the first hour of the day," from Latin prima (hora) "first (hour)," from primus "first" — related to premier, prima donna, primeval, prince
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