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Definitions

main

[meyn] / meɪn /
ADJECTIVE
principal, predominant
Synonyms
STRONGEST
central essential fundamental leading major particular preeminent primary prime special vital
STRONG
capital cardinal chief head necessary premier star
WEAK
controlling critical crucial foremost outstanding paramount prevailing stellar supreme
Antonyms
STRONGEST
auxiliary common inessential inferior minor ordinary secondary subordinate trivial unimportant usual
STRONG
unnecessary
WEAK
extra insignificant nonessential
ADJECTIVE
absolute, utter
Synonyms
STRONGEST
entire
STRONG
brute mere simple utmost
WEAK
direct downright only pure sheer undisguised
Antonyms
WEAK
auxiliary extra inessential insignificant minor nonessential secondary subordinate unimportant unnecessary
NOUN
pipe for system
Synonyms
STRONG
cable channel conduit duct line trough trunk

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

A trader at the capital's main wholesale market, Priyantha Sudharshana Silva, 53, is not blaming the administration for the crisis.

From Barron's • Apr. 4, 2026

They note that the main culprit was a “catastrophically bad control-room design” where workers “were unable to understand what was going wrong.”

From Slate • Apr. 4, 2026

Younger post-main sequence stars had a higher rate of 0.35%, similar to stars still on the main sequence.

From Science Daily • Apr. 4, 2026

In fact, writing code or shipping a product was not the main goal of the job.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 4, 2026

We’d been given strict instructions not to leave the main atrium until further notice, but this couldn’t wait.

From "Glitch" by Laura Martin

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.