priming

American  

[prahy-ming] / ˈpraɪ mɪŋ /

noun

1. the powder or other material used to ignite a charge.

2. the act of a person or thing that primes.

3. material used as a primer, or a first coat or layer of paint, size, etc.

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priming British  

/ ˈpraɪmɪŋ /

noun

1. something used to prime

2. a substance, used to ignite an explosive charge

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Other Word Forms

• self-priming
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of priming

First recorded in 1590–1600; prime + -ing ¹

Example Sentences

As Barron’s wrote last November, the company has been priming investors for the loss of Apple’s sales for years, and it may already be factored into the stock price.

From Barron's • Jan. 9, 2026

And the earlier the snow melts, the more time plants and soils have to dry out in the summer heat, priming the landscape for large wildfires, Schwartz said.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 24, 2025

Taken together, these two lines of research—the broad immune priming revealed by Covid mRNA vaccines and the precision targeting achieved by cancer-specific mRNA therapies—are beginning to converge.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 5, 2025

The existence of Mas'ud's alleged confession was first revealed in 2020, when the US announced it was charging him with building and priming the bomb used on Pan Am 103.

From BBC • Oct. 7, 2025

So she held on, taking huge gulps of air, tensing her muscles, priming them for flight.

From "Bone Gap" by Laura Ruby

Related Words

• conference
• discussion
• information
• instruction
• meeting
• update