What does "main" mean?
That which is chief or principal; the chief or main portion; the bulk, the greater part, gross.
Main
/meɪn/ adj, adv, name, noun, verb, slang
adj, adv, name, noun, verb, slang ·Very common ·Middle school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: That which is chief or principal; the chief or main portion; the bulk, the greater part, gross.
- Grammar: main is listed as adj, adv, name, noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: chief, primary, principal, absolute.
- Useful contrasts: back, by, additional.
- Usage evidence: What is the main purpose of your studying English?
How to use "main"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "main" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "main" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "main" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "main" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "main" is acting as adj, adv, name, noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "chief" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "main", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 That which is chief or principal; the chief or main portion; the bulk, the greater part, gross.
"Antiochus […] thought it a proper time for him to attempt the recovery of Syria; and Hermias his prime Miniſter preſſed hard for his going in perſon to this war, contrary to the Opinion of Epigenes his General; who thought it chiefly concerned him to ſuppreſs the Rebellion of Alexander and Molon in the East; and therefore adviſed him to march immediately in perſon with the main of his Army for the ſubduing of thoſe Rebels, before they ſhould gather greater ſtrength in the revolted Provinces againſt him."
- 2 A hand or match in a game of dice. obsolete
"That writing is but juſt like dice, / And lucky mains make people wiſe: / That jumbled words, if fortune throw 'em, / Shall, well as Dryden, form a poem; […]"
- 3 A basket for gathering grapes. obsolete, rare
"A main [hamper] Corbis vindemiatorius"
- 4 Ellipsis of Main Street (“main street”), a central street of a community. abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis
- 5 a principal pipe in a system that distributes water or gas or electricity or that collects sewage wordnet
Show 13 more definitions
- 6 That which is chief or principal; the chief or main portion; the bulk, the greater part, gross.; The primary character that one plays in a video game in which one can play more than one character.
"My WoW main has reached level cap and I’m on my way getting my first alt there as well."
- 7 The largest throw in a match at dice; in the game of hazard, a number from one to nine called out by a person before the dice are thrown. obsolete
"Euery man hath not beene brought vp in the knowledge of toungs. And it chanceth often to the reader, as it doth to diceplayers, that gaine more by the bye then by the maine."
- 8 any very large body of (salt) water wordnet
- 9 That which is chief or principal; the chief or main portion; the bulk, the greater part, gross.; A main account. Internet
"His main got banned after his last post."
- 10 A stake played for at dice. obsolete
"[W]ere it good / To ſet the exact wealth of al our ſtates / Al at one caſt? to ſet ſo rich a maine / On the nice hazard of one doubtfull houre?"
- 11 A large cable or pipe providing utility service to an area or a building, such as a water main or electric main.
"There's a gas leak in the main outside the building."
- 12 A sporting contest or match, especially a cockfighting match. obsolete
"My lord was hunting all day when the ſeaſon admitted; he frequented all the cockfights and fairs in the country, and would ride twenty miles to ſee a main fought, or two clowns break their heads at a cudgelling match; […]"
- 13 Ellipsis of main course (“the principal dish of a meal”). abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis, informal
"I had scampi and chips for my main and a slice of cheesecake for dessert."
- 14 A banker's shovel for coins.
- 15 The high seas. poetic
"Who ſhall him rew, that ſwimming in the maine, / Will die for thriſt, and water doth refuſe? / Refuſe ſuch fruitleſſe toile, and preſent pleaſures chuſe."
- 16 The mainland. US, archaic, dialectal
"In the year that followed of 1589, we gave the Spaniards no breath, but turned challengers, invaded the main of Spain. In which enterprize, although we failed of our end, which was to ſettle Don Antonio in the kingdom of Portugal, yet a man ſhall hardly meet with an action that doth better reveal the great ſecret of the power of Spain: […]"
- 17 Ellipsis of mainsail. abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis
- 18 Force, power, strength, violent effort. obsolete
"For with ſuch puiſſance and impetuous maine / Thoſe Champions broke on them, that forſt the fly, / Like ſcattered Sheepe, whenas the Shepherds ſwaine / A Lyon and a Tigre doth eſpye, / With greedy pace forth ruſhing from the foreſt nye."
Verb
- 1 Ellipsis of mainline (“to inject (a drug) directly into a vein”). abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis, slang, transitive
- 2 To mainly play a specific character or side, or with specific equipment, during a game. transitive
"He mains the same character as me in that game."
- 3 To convert (a road) into a main or primary road. obsolete
"When a rural district council considers that a highway in its district ought to become a main road by reason of its being a medium of communication between great towns, or a thoroughfare to a railway station, or otherwise, it may apply to the county council for an order "maining" the road under s. 15 of the Highways and Locomotives (Amendment) Act, 1878 (41 & 42 Vict. c. 77), as amended by s. 3 (viii.) of the Local Government Act, 1888 (51 & 52 Vict. c. 41), and the county council may make an order accordingly."
Adjective
- 1 Of chief or leading importance; prime, principal. not-comparable
"The main office is actually one of the smaller rooms."
- 2 Chief, most important, or principal in extent, size, or strength; consisting of the largest part. not-comparable
"main timbers"
- 3 Full, sheer, undivided. archaic, not-comparable, usually
"[…] I shall never forget the diabolical sneer which writhed Rashleigh's wayward features, as I was forced from the apartment by the main strength of two of these youthful Titans."
- 4 Big; angry. dialectal, not-comparable
- 5 Belonging to or connected with the principal mast in a vessel. not-comparable
Show 1 more definition
- 6 Great in size or degree; important, powerful, strong, vast. not-comparable, obsolete
"And now that Current with main Fury ran / (The Stop remov'd that did the Courſe defend) / Unto the full of Miſchief, that began / T' an univerſal Ruin to extend; […]"
Adjective
- 1 (of a clause) capable of standing syntactically alone as a complete sentence wordnet
- 2 most important element wordnet
- 3 of force; of the greatest possible intensity wordnet
Adverb
- 1 Exceedingly, extremely, greatly, mightily, very, very much. British, dialectal
"Suck[y]. A Draught of Ale, Friend, for I'm main dry. / Pen[elope]. Fie! fie! Niece! Is that Liquor for a young Lady? Don't disparage your Family and Breeding!"
Proper Noun
- 1 A river in southern Germany, flowing from Bavaria to the Rhine.
- 2 A river in Northern Ireland, flowing into Lough Neagh.
- 3 A surname.
- 4 Ellipsis of Main Street, a street named "Main Street". abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis
Antonyms
Example
"What is the main purpose of your studying English?"
Common questions
What is a synonym for "main"?
Common synonyms include: chief, primary, principal, absolute, africa, all-absorbing.
How do you use "main" in a sentence?
What is the main purpose of your studying English?
How do you pronounce "main"?
Pronounced /meɪn/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
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.
Etymology 2
From Middle English mayn, main, maine, mæine, mæȝen, from Old English mæġen (“strength”), from Proto-Germanic *maginą (“strength, power, might”), *maginaz (“strong”), from Proto-Indo-European *megʰ- (“be able”). The word is cognate with Old High German magen, megin, Old Norse magn, megn, megin, Old Saxon megin. More recent senses are derived from the adjective.
Etymology 3
Uncertain; probably from the adjective main. Evidence is lacking for a derivation from French main (“hand”).
Etymology 4
Uncertain, possibly from French main (“hand”).
Etymology 5
From Latin Moenis.
Etymology 6
From an Mhaing, possibly from Old Irish mang (“fawn”), which is said to be related to Proto-Celtic *makʷos (“son”); also compare Proto-Germanic *maguz.
Etymology 7
* As a Scottish surname, reduced from the North Germanic name Magnus. Also from the adjective main. * As a Scottish, English, French and Norman surname, from personal names derived from Proto-West Germanic *magan (“to be able”), similar to Mein. * As a Scottish, English and Norman surname, from the French province of Maine. Compare Mansell. * As a Scottish, English, and Norman surname, from the Anglo-Norman adjective maine (“great, large”), from Old French magne. * As a Scottish, English, Norman and French surname, from the noun main (“hand”).
Etymology 8
From main.