How do you use the word "main" in a sentence?

Q: How do you use the word "main" in a sentence?

Here are real-life examples of using "main": What is the main purpose of your studying English? Hard work is the main element of success.

Main Meaning

/meɪn/

Definition, CEFR level A2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.

Definition

adjOf chief or leading importance; prime, principal.

adjChief, most important, or principal in extent, size, or strength; consisting of the largest part.

Sentence Examples

What is the main purpose of your studying English?

Hard work is the main element of success.

Be careful crossing the main road.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms:

important master primary

Antonyms:

dependent unimportant

CEFR Practice Quiz

The ____ reason for the afternoon meeting was to discuss budget cuts.

CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)

The ____ reason that I decided to go to the park was to enjoy the fresh air and the beautiful sunshine.

Word Origin & History

From Middle English mayn, main, maine, mæin, meyn, from main (noun) (see further at etymology 2); compare Old English mæġen (“strong, main, principal”) (used in combination) and Old Norse megn, megenn (“strong, main”). The word is cognate with Old High German megīn (“strong, mighty”) (modern German Möge, Vermögen (“power, wealth”)), and also akin to Old English magan (“to be able to”). See also may.

Literary Quotations & Historical Citations

"Religion direct us rather to ſecure inward peace than outward eaſe, to be more careful to avoid everlaſting and intolerable torment than ſhort and light afflictions which are but for a moment; […] In a word, our main intereſt is to be as happy as we can, and as long as is poſſible; and if we be caſt into ſuch circumſtances, that we muſt be either in part and for a time or elſe wholly and always miſerable, the beſt wiſdom is to chuſe the greateſt and moſt laſting happiness, but the leaſt and ſhorteſt miſery." — 1664, John Tillotson, “Sermon I. The Wisdom of Being Religious. Job XXVIII. 28.”, in The Works of the Most Reverend Dr. John Tillotson, Late Lord Archbishop of Canterbury: […], London: […] B. Aylmer, […]; [a]nd W. Rogers, […], published 1696, →OCLC:

"With some of it on the south and more of it on the north of the great main thoroughfare that connects Aldgate and the East India Docks, St. Bede's at this period of its history was perhaps the poorest and most miserable parish in the East End of London." — 1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter VII, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC, page 77:

"By one o'clock the place was choc-a-bloc. […] The restaurant was packed, and the promenade between the two main courts and the subsidiary courts was thronged with healthy-looking youngish people, drawn to the Mecca of tennis from all parts of the country." — 1935, [George Goodchild], chapter 5, in Death on the Centre Court; a McLean Mystery, London: Hodder and Stoughton, →OCLC:

"Not uninvented that, which thou aright / Beleivſt ſo main to our ſucceſs, I bring; […]" — 1667, John Milton, “Book VI”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC, lines 470–471:

"The dawn of the oil age was fairly recent. Although the stuff was used to waterproof boats in the Middle East 6,000 years ago, extracting it in earnest began only in 1859 after an oil strike in Pennsylvania. […] It was used to make kerosene, the main fuel for artificial lighting after overfishing led to a shortage of whale blubber. Other liquids produced in the refining process, too unstable or smoky for lamplight, were burned or dumped." — 2013 August 3, “The Future of Oil: Yesterday’s fuel”, in The Economist, volume 408, number 8847, archived from the original on 01 Aug 2013:

Explore More A2 Vocabulary Words