Collocations for "main"
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word "main" in context.
WordReference English Collocations © 2026
main
ⓘMost examples are given in US English. We have labeled exceptions as UK.adj
- the main reason [for, why, she]
- the main source of [information, money, protein]
- my main [concern, worry, question] is
- my main interest [is, lies] in
- is the main character [of, in] the [book, play, movie]
- [got, had, played] the main part
- is the main attraction
- the main idea is (to)
- our main goal (here) is (to)
- [customer satisfaction, success] is our main goal
- [for, is] the main event
- his main [duties, job, responsibility]
- there are [three] main [types, kinds, species] of
- located on the main [street, road]
- the main [page, webpage, phone number] of
- I'll have [steak, lasagne, cod] for my main course
- is the main [process, location, name] for
- slang: is my main man
- a [gas, water, supply] main
- a faulty [gas] main
- [repair, check, inspect] a [gas] main
- turn [on, off] the [gas] main
- turn it [on] [from, at] the mains
- a [leak, blockage, fault] in the mains
- are, in the main, [young, right, poor]
- UK: [flip, shut off] the mains switch
- UK: a mains [repairer, technician, worker]
- UK: runs on mains power
- UK: battery or mains- [powered, operated]
- UK: a mains-powered [drill, smoke alarm]
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'main' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
coast
- research
- return
- run
- serve
- aim
- airport
- cast
- cause
- character
- characteristic
- comfort
- concern
- content
- course
- driver
- emphasis
- fault
- focus
- function
- goal
- interest
- keep
- witness
- title
- task
- street
- store
- stage
- speech
- source
- scene
- road
- question
- part
- medium
- meaning
- march
- training
- pet
- bearing
- charter
- curtain
- kin
- lung
- cancer
- catalyst
- chamber
- Chinese
- clause
