prim

1 of 3

verb

ˈprim

primmed; primming

transitive verb

: to give a prim or demure expression to

primming her thin lips after every mouthful

John Buchan

: to dress primly

prim

2 of 3

adjective

primmer; primmest

: stiffly formal and proper : decorous

: prudish

: neat, trim

prim hedges

primly adverb

primness noun

prim

3 of 3

abbreviation

primary

primitive

Example Sentences

Adjective He has prim views on religion. Her aunts were very prim and proper.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Accessorize with a baroque pearl bracelet from Missoma, some patent leather Roger Vivier flats, and a prim black top-handle bag from Amina Muaddi.

Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 6 Apr. 2022 Her best friend is Alicent Hightower (Emily Carey), daughter of Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans), Hand of the King, who is prim and proper in all the ways Rhaenyra is flippant and free-spirited.

Randall Colburn, EW.com, 22 Aug. 2022 Carson is prim and proper, while Max, a Black woman, feels trapped.

Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 12 Aug. 2022 Silver Bob Actress and singer Hyeri's iteration of gray hair is in the form of a silver bob that's prim and polished.

Wendy Sy, Allure, 28 July 2022 Still others highlighted Felicity Merriman, a feisty tomboy from colonial Virginia, and Samantha Parkington, a prim and proper Victorian girl.

Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 July 2022 Mae is a Canadian comedian living in present-day Manchester, UK, and George is a more prim, proper, middle-class woman.

Katherine Singh, refinery29.com, 27 June 2022 This hassle-free staple is designed to keep you looking prim and polished no matter the distance.

Karla Pope, Woman's Day, 24 May 2022 Wearing a prim white dress and black cardigan and with her hair pulled back in a bun, Heard addressed the jury for more than six hours, relaying a series of disturbing anecdotes that allegedly took place from 2014 to 2016.

Tatiana Siegel, Rolling Stone, 5 May 2022 See More

Word History

Etymology

Verb

earlier as intransitive verb, "to assume a formal or demure air," of obscure origin

Note: First attested in the comedies of Thomas d'urfey, as Fool's Preferment (1688) and The Marriage-Hater Match'd (1692). Akin in sense to primp, attested earlier, though the verb as well as the adjective primp "(of the mouth) pursed, primly set" are nearly exclusive to Scots and American English.

Adjective

derivative of or akin to prim entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

1707, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1702, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

单词	primness
释义	prim 1 of 3 verb ˈprim primmed; primming transitive verb 1 : to give a prim or demure expression to primming her thin lips after every mouthful John Buchan 2 : to dress primly prim 2 of 3 adjective primmer; primmest 1 a : stiffly formal and proper : decorous b : prudish 2 : neat, trim prim hedges primly adverb primness noun prim 3 of 3 abbreviation 1 primary 2 primitive Synonyms Adjective antiseptic bandbox crisp groomed kempt neat orderly picked up shipshape smug snug tidied tidy trig trim uncluttered well-groomed See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Adjective He has prim views on religion. Her aunts were very prim and proper. Recent Examples on the Web Adjective Accessorize with a baroque pearl bracelet from Missoma, some patent leather Roger Vivier flats, and a prim black top-handle bag from Amina Muaddi. Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 6 Apr. 2022 Her best friend is Alicent Hightower (Emily Carey), daughter of Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans), Hand of the King, who is prim and proper in all the ways Rhaenyra is flippant and free-spirited. Randall Colburn, EW.com, 22 Aug. 2022 Carson is prim and proper, while Max, a Black woman, feels trapped. Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 12 Aug. 2022 Silver Bob Actress and singer Hyeri's iteration of gray hair is in the form of a silver bob that's prim and polished. Wendy Sy, Allure, 28 July 2022 Still others highlighted Felicity Merriman, a feisty tomboy from colonial Virginia, and Samantha Parkington, a prim and proper Victorian girl. Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 July 2022 Mae is a Canadian comedian living in present-day Manchester, UK, and George is a more prim, proper, middle-class woman. Katherine Singh, refinery29.com, 27 June 2022 This hassle-free staple is designed to keep you looking prim and polished no matter the distance. Karla Pope, Woman's Day, 24 May 2022 Wearing a prim white dress and black cardigan and with her hair pulled back in a bun, Heard addressed the jury for more than six hours, relaying a series of disturbing anecdotes that allegedly took place from 2014 to 2016. Tatiana Siegel, Rolling Stone, 5 May 2022 See More Word History Etymology Verb earlier as intransitive verb, "to assume a formal or demure air," of obscure origin Note: First attested in the comedies of Thomas d'urfey, as Fool's Preferment (1688) and The Marriage-Hater Match'd (1692). Akin in sense to primp, attested earlier, though the verb as well as the adjective primp "(of the mouth) pursed, primly set" are nearly exclusive to Scots and American English. Adjective derivative of or akin to prim entry 1 First Known Use Verb 1707, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Adjective 1702, in the meaning defined at sense 1a Kids Definition prim adjective ˈprim primmer; primmest : very formal and proper primness noun as in priggishness Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance priggishness priggery puritanism prudery prudishness morality old-maidishness moralism virtue Comstockery nice-nellyism Antonyms & Near Antonyms prurience lechery libertinism libertarianism libertinage pruriency
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prim

verb

adjective

abbreviation

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Kids Definition

adjective

noun