pre ‧ dom ‧ i ‧ nant AC /prɪˈdɒmənənt, prɪˈdɒmɪnənt $ -ˈdɑː-/ BrE AmE adjective
[ Word Family: verb : ↑ predominate ; adverb : ↑ predominantly ; adjective : ↑ predominant ]
more powerful, more common, or more easily noticed than others:
the predominant group in society
In this painting, the predominant colour is black.
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THESAURUS
▪ main larger or more important than all the others:
the main entrance of the building
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the main reason for his decision
▪ chief/principal most important. Chief and principal are more formal than main , and are often used in written English:
Coffee is the country’s principal export.
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What is the company’s chief objective?
▪ major very important or serious:
Smoking is a major cause of heart disease.
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Street crime is becoming a major problem.
▪ key most important, or the one that everything or everyone else depends on:
Education is likely to be a key issue in the election campaign.
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Hooper was a key member of the team.
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Diet is key.
▪ number one especially spoken most important or best - this phrase sounds a little informal and it is used especially in spoken English:
Reliability is the number one priority.
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the number one cause of death
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He is still in the number one position.
▪ primary most important - used especially about the most important aim, role, cause, or concern. Primary is more formal than main :
The primary aim of the project was to help students develop their communication skills.
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Security is our primary concern.
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The primary function of the university was considered to be the teaching of ‘the great cultural disciplines’.
▪ prime very important or most important - used especially about the most important reason, cause, or aim, or about the most likely ↑ target or ↑ suspect . Prime is more formal than main :
Their prime objective is to increase profits for their shareholders.
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Tourists are prime targets for theft and robbery.
▪ core most important - used especially about the things that people should pay most attention to:
the core skills of reading and writing
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He wants the company to focus on its core business - advertising.
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The party’s core values are individual freedom and reducing the amount of government bureaucracy.
▪ central most important and having more influence than anything else:
The U.S. played a central role in the peace negotiations.
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a central theme of the book
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The central question is, why are people still so attached to their cars?
▪ predominant most common, typical, or important:
Yellow was the predominant colour everywhere.
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High arched windows are a predominant feature in English churches.
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New York still has a predominant role in the contemporary art world.