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Synonyms

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, prime, or a first coat or layer of paint, size, etc.

priming British  
/ ˈpraɪmɪŋ /

noun

  1. something used to prime

  2. a substance, used to ignite an explosive charge

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • self-priming adjective

Etymology

Origin of priming

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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

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

The Dodgers are so well-run that their regular season is about priming a pitching staff for the playoffs, not for worrying about whether they will be in the playoffs.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 6, 2024

She loved it when her father taught her the tricks like priming the carburetor that would keep the temperamental machine on the road.

From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.