What is main? Pronunciation and usage in English

main means . Learn how to pronounce and use main through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of main

mainadjective

/meɪn/
Definition & pronunciation of main

The word "main" in English has a few pronunciations depending on its usage! Here's a breakdown:

1. "Main" as in "primary" or "principal" (noun):

  • Pronunciation: /meɪn/ (rhymes with "rayne")
  • Sound: The "m" is silent. It's pronounced like the "may" in "mayonnaise."

2. "Main" as in "to be the main/primary one" (verb - often used in British English):

  • Pronunciation: /meɪn/ (same as above) – it's essentially the same as the noun pronunciation.

3. "Main" as in "maintaining" (verb):

  • Pronunciation: /meɪn/ (same as above)

4. "Main" as in "main street" (noun - common in American English):

  • Pronunciation: /meɪn/ (same as the primary/principal pronunciation)

Key takeaway: In both American and British English, "main" is generally pronounced with the "m" silent and sounding like “may.”

Resources for Hearing the Pronunciation:

Do you want me to give you some example sentences using "main" so you can hear it in context?

Usage and examples with the word main in English

Let's break down how to use the word "main" in English. It's a surprisingly versatile word with a few different meanings and uses. Here's a categorized breakdown:

1. As a Noun (Most Common Usage)

  • The Primary or Most Important Thing: This is the most frequent meaning. It refers to the central, most crucial element of something.

    • "The main reason for the delay was the bad weather." (The primary reason)
    • "This restaurant is known for its main course – the roast beef." (The most important item on the menu)
    • "The main focus of the project is on improving customer service." (The primary goal)
    • "He’s the main actor in the play." (The lead actor)

  • A Street or Road: Especially in British English.

    • "We walked down the main street."
    • "The main road leads to the airport."

  • The Central Part of Something: (Often referring to a structure)

    • "The main hall of the hotel was beautiful."
    • "The main lobby is on the ground floor."

  • A Train or Bus Route:

    • "Take the main line to London."

2. As an Adjective (Less Common than as a Noun)

  • Principal / Most Important: Modifying a noun to indicate it's the most important.
    • "He's a main character in the story." (He’s a principal character)
    • "She’s a main witness in the trial." (She’s a principal witness)
    • "They are main shareholders in the company." (They are principal shareholders)

3. As a Verb (Rare)

  • To Lead or Be the Primary Route: This is a less common, slightly archaic usage.
    • "The river mained its course through the valley." (Meaning: the river continued its course) – Often used in older literature. You'll rarely hear this in everyday speech.

4. Phrases Containing "Main"

  • “Stay Main”: (British slang) – To remain where you are; to linger. Example: “Don’t stay main, come to the party!”

  • “Mainly” / “Mostly”: These are the most common words to replace “main” when you mean “primarily” or “mostly.”

    • "I mainly eat vegetables." (I mostly eat vegetables.)
    • "He mainly works from home." (He mostly works from home.)

Here's a table summarizing the uses:

Part of Speech Meaning Example
Noun Primary / Most Important The main reason is the weather.
Noun Street / Road (British) We walked down the main street.
Noun Central Part of Structure The main hall was ornate.
Adjective Principal / Most Important He’s a main character.
Verb To Lead (Rare, Archaic) The river remained its course.
Phrases Primarily / Mostly I mainly eat cereal.

Tips for Understanding Context:

  • British vs. American English: "Main" as a noun for "street" is much more common in British English.
  • "Mainly" is your friend: If you're unsure, using "mainly" or "mostly" is almost always a safe and clear substitute.

To help me give you more targeted advice, could you tell me:

  • What kind of context are you trying to use "main" in? (e.g., writing an essay, speaking informally, etc.)
  • Do you have a specific sentence you're trying to use it in?

Synonyms for the word main

Idioms of the word main

with an eye for/on/to the main chance
(British English, usually disapproving)with the hope of using a particular situation in order to gain some advantage for yourself

    Practice with vocabulary main

    Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

    1. The ________ objective of the project is to reduce operational costs by 15%.
    2. During the presentation, the speaker addressed the ________ points of the new policy in detail.
    3. The ________ cause of the system failure was an oversight in the final testing phase.
    4. To ensure market competitiveness, a ________ focus on innovation is imperative for our industry.

    Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

    1. What is the ________ reason for the recent increase in customer complaints? a) chief b) primary c) main d) minor e) principal

    2. The ________ challenge for the new CEO will be to streamline operations and boost employee morale. a) central b) incidental c) peripheral d) main e) key

    3. We need to identify the ________ factor contributing to the decline in sales this quarter. a) major b) trivial c) subsidiary d) primary e) main

    4. Effective project management requires a ________ understanding of scope and resources. a) superficial b) thorough c) comprehensive d) deep e) rudimentary

    5. The team's ________ priority is to meet the tight deadline for the product launch. a) secondary b) immediate c) urgent d) principal e) core

    Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

    1. Original: The most important reason for our success is our dedicated team. Rewrite the sentence using "main".

    2. Original: The critical issues preventing project completion need immediate attention. Rewrite the sentence using a form of "main".

    3. Original: The primary objective of the new policy is to enhance data security. Rewrite the sentence, but do not use "main" or any of its forms. Use a suitable replacement word.

    Answer:

    Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

    1. The main objective of the project is to reduce operational costs by 15%.
    2. During the presentation, the speaker addressed the main points of the new policy in detail.
    3. The principal cause of the system failure was an oversight in the final testing phase.
    4. To ensure market competitiveness, a constant focus on innovation is imperative for our industry.

    Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

    1. a) chief, b) primary, c) main, e) principal
    2. a) central, d) main, e) key
    3. a) major, d) primary, e) main
    4. b) thorough, c) comprehensive, d) deep
    5. b) immediate, c) urgent, d) principal, e) core

    Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

    1. Our dedicated team is the main reason for our success.
    2. The main issues preventing project completion require immediate attention.
    3. The principal objective of the new policy is to enhance data security.

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