1
: physical strength : force
—used in the phrase with might and main
The next instant we were away down the river, clawing with might and main to keep out of the woods.—
Mark Twain
Mark Twain3
: the chief part : essential point
they are in the main well-trained
4
: a pipe, duct, or circuit which carries the combined flow of tributary branches of a utility system
Synonyms
Noun
Adjective
Examples of main in a Sentence
Noun
My radio runs either off batteries or off the mains.
Turn off the water at the mains.
Adjective
Speed is the main advantage of this approach.
The company's main office is located in New York.
driving down the main road
This dish can be served as a main course or appetizer.
And now for the main event of the evening!
Recent Examples on the WebPhoebe Evans, Southern Living, 3 Aug. 2024
Survivors would remember multiple explosions as gas mains ruptured.
—Christopher Goffard, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2024
Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 9 Aug. 2024
Kids can choose between a double cheeseburger, 4-piece chicken nuggets, 6-piece chicken nuggets, cheeseburger and hamburger for their main.
—Sabrina Weiss, Peoplemag, 9 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for main 
Noun
This sweet and spicy salad is the perfect side dish for any summer main.
—Phoebe Evans, Southern Living, 3 Aug. 2024
Survivors would remember multiple explosions as gas mains ruptured.
—Christopher Goffard, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2024
Adjective
The Associated Press reported that an unnamed 18-year-old man was arrested Thursday evening (August 8) following the earlier arrests of the 19-year-old main suspect in the incident and a 17-year-old, both of whom were taken into custody on Tuesday.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 9 Aug. 2024
Kids can choose between a double cheeseburger, 4-piece chicken nuggets, 6-piece chicken nuggets, cheeseburger and hamburger for their main.
—Sabrina Weiss, Peoplemag, 9 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for main
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'main.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near main
Cite this Entry
“Main.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/main. Accessed 19 Aug. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
main
2 of 2 adjective1
: chief entry 1 sense 2, principal
the main idea
2
: pure sense 3, sheer
by main force
3
: being a clause that is capable of standing alone as a simple sentence but is part of a larger sentence that includes a subordinate clause or another main clause
mainly
adverb
Geographical Definition
Main
geographical name
ˈmīn 
ˈmān
river 325 miles (523 kilometers) long in south central Germany rising in northern Bavaria in the Fichtelgebirge and flowing west into the Rhine River
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