What does "priming" mean?
A substance used as a primer.
Priming
/ˈpɹaɪmɪŋ/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A substance used as a primer.
- Grammar: priming is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: activation, associative influence, blasting cap, calcimining.
- Useful contrasts: depriming, hinder, inhibition.
- Usage evidence: Research by Duke University scientists suggests that habits leave a lasting mark on certain circuits in the brain, "priming us to feed our cravings."
How to use "priming"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "priming" 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 "priming" 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 "priming" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "priming" 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 "priming" is acting as noun, verb 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 "activation" 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 "priming", 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 A substance used as a primer.
"The spot was bright and lively now; but in winter it became necessary to place sandbags against the door, and to stuff up the keyhole against the wind and rain, which had worn the paint so thin that the priming and knotting showed through."
- 2 the act of making something ready wordnet
- 3 A form of seed planting preparation in which the seeds are presoaked in a nanoparticle solution.
- 4 the first or preliminary coat of paint or size applied to a surface wordnet
- 5 A harmful condition in which water is carried over from the boiler of a steam locomotive.
"There have been failures, of course, and especially delays due to bad steaming, and, more often, priming."
Show 8 more definitions
- 6 any igniter that is used to initiate the burning of a propellant wordnet
- 7 The powder or other combustible used to communicate fire to a charge of gunpowder, as in a firearm.
- 8 The first contact that an antigen-specific T helper cell precursors have with an antigen.
- 9 A cognitive process in which media information increases temporarily the accessibility of knowledge units in the memory of an individual.
- 10 The effect that a nutrient has on the rate of organic matter decomposition
- 11 The process of flushing the tubing with IV fluid to remove air before connecting it to a patient.
- 12 The implicit memory effect in which exposure to a stimulus influences response to a subsequent stimulus.
- 13 A form of positive priming that induces a tendency to repeat or more easily process a sentence that is similar in structure to one previously presented.
Verb
- 1 present participle and gerund of prime form-of, gerund, participle, present
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"Research by Duke University scientists suggests that habits leave a lasting mark on certain circuits in the brain, "priming us to feed our cravings.""
Common questions
What is a synonym for "priming"?
Common synonyms include: activation, associative influence, blasting cap, calcimining, cap, capacitation.
How do you use "priming" in a sentence?
Research by Duke University scientists suggests that habits leave a lasting mark on certain circuits in the brain, "priming us to feed our cravings."
How do you pronounce "priming"?
Pronounced /ˈpɹaɪmɪŋ/.