primal

adjective

pri·​mal ˈprī-məl How to pronounce primal (audio)
1
: original, primitive
village life continued in its primal innocenceVan Wyck Brooks
2
: first in importance : primary

Examples of primal in a Sentence

the primal theme of the essay is toleration of religious diversity there was a period of primal idealism after the founding of the republic and before the rise of partisan politics
Recent Examples on the Web His work is an aural document of the slaughterhouse on the other side of the wall (the gunfire, the shouts) while Mica Levi’s score is an abstracted primal scream. Hazlitt, 6 Mar. 2024 Stanner’s list includes, among other things, the primal equivalents of karaoke, clubbing, coffee with friends, shopping at the mall and pickup basketball. Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 5 Mar. 2024 To step in front of the animal, these men must overcome primal survival instincts hardwired into our brains. Toby Muse, Rolling Stone, 3 Mar. 2024 Everything has been boiled down to its most primal. Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2024 Our primal responses see new people as threats, unknown entities that cause uncertainty and anxiety. Ricky Muddimer, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024 Human intervention is evident yet humbled by a certain primal resonance. Jessica Ritz, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2024 There was something a little bit more sincere about it to me, something about becoming one with your environment in such a primal, primitive, huge, grand, explosive way. Nick Haramis Ola Rindal Dogukan Nesanir, New York Times, 16 Feb. 2024 Banderas exudes a primal desire for Pitt’s Louis, suggesting the possibility of a more pleasurable co-dependence than that offered by his initial partner Lestat, the man who made him into the creature he’s become. Nicholas Bell, SPIN, 14 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'primal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

probably from prime entry 2 + -al entry 1

First Known Use

1604, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of primal was in 1604

Dictionary Entries Near primal

Cite this Entry

“Primal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/primal. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

primal

adjective
pri·​mal ˈprī-məl How to pronounce primal (audio)
1
: of or relating to the first period or state : primitive
2
: first in importance : basic

More from Merriam-Webster on primal

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!