be primary

[/bi ˈpraɪ.mer.i/]
verb phrase
ser primário; ser principal; ser fundamental
1. To be of first importance; to be the most significant or essential thing
Safety must be primary in all workplace decisions.
A segurança deve ser primária em todas as decisões do local de trabalho.
2. To serve as the main or most basic element of something
Education should be primary for developing nations.
A educação deve ser primária para as nações em desenvolvimento.
3. To be fundamental or of first order in a sequence or hierarchy
The primary concern is meeting the deadline.
A preocupação primária é cumprir o prazo.
In both American and Brazilian contexts, this phrase is frequently used in professional, academic, and policy discussions to establish priorities. In Brazilian Portuguese, 'ser primário' emphasizes fundamental nature, while 'ser principal' emphasizes importance in hierarchy.
Synonyms / Sinônimos
be paramountbe principalbe fundamentalbe foremostbe essentialbe chief
Antonyms / Antônimos
be secondarybe minorbe insignificantbe tertiary

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
ser primário; ser principal
Standard usage in formal and informal contexts
Portugal
ser primário; ser principal
Same usage as Brazilian Portuguese
United States
be primary
Common in business, education, and policy contexts

Related Words

primaryprimarilyprimary educationprimary sourceprincipalfundamentalessentialparamount

Related Idioms & Phrases

be of primary importance
be the primary focus
be the primary objective
primary concern
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