primarily

primary +‎ -ly

• IPA^(key): /pɹaɪˈmɛɹəli/, /ˈpɹaɪmɛɹəli/

• Audio (Southern England)

  (file)

• Audio (Southern England)

  (file)

primarily (not comparable)

1. (focus) Of a primary or central nature, first and foremost
   • 1951 October, H. C. Casserley, “Crane Engines”, in Railway Magazine, page 660:

     The idea of fitting a crane to an engine for shunting duties, primarily in works yards, appears to have originated with the North London Railway engine in 1872.

   • 2015 January 1, Sarah Knapton, “Most cancers are caused by bad luck not genes or lifestyle, say scientists”, in The Telegraph‎:

     But now a study has shown that most cancers are primarily caused by bad luck rather than poor lifestyle choices or defective DNA.

   • 2018 July 20, “Zika virus”, in World Health Organization‎:

     Zika virus disease is caused by a virus transmitted primarily by Aedes mosquitoes, which bite during the day.

   • 2019 March 15, Keith Melrose, “Our leading tipsters give their fancy for the Cheltenham Gold Cup”, in The Racing Post‎:

     Some Gold Cups are won primarily with class, others with stamina.

• by and large, chiefly, for the most part; see also Thesaurus:mostly or Thesaurus:above all