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Prepositions with prime

Prime for, in, of, with, or at?

Prime appears in several fixed patterns. Prime for and prime in are common adjective uses, while in the prime of is a set expression.

Quick answer

Which prepositions go with prime?

Use prime for readiness or suitability, prime in for expertise, and in the prime of for the best period of life or success. Prime with and prime at are uncommon as adjective complements.

The land is prime for development.
She is prime in corporate law.
He is in the prime of his career.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
prime for + purpose

Ready or suitable for something

Use prime for when something is ideal or prepared.

The site is prime for redevelopment.
2
prime in + field

Strong in a subject or activity

Use prime in mainly in formal descriptions of ability.

The team is prime in defensive tactics.
3
in the prime of + life/career

Best or strongest period

This is a fixed expression.

The athlete was in the prime of her career.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
prime for
The area is prime for investment.
Standard for suitability or readiness.
prime in
She is prime in negotiation strategy.
Formal and less common, referring to strength in an area.
prime of
He is in the prime of life.
Fixed expression with in the prime of.
prime with
The pump was primed with water.
Usually a verb phrase, not adjective prime with.
prime at
The striker is at his prime.
Less idiomatic than in his prime.

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Omitting in from the fixed phrase

The expression is in the prime of.

✕ She is prime of her career. ✓ She is in the prime of her career.

Using at his prime

In his prime is more natural.

✕ He was at his prime then. ✓ He was in his prime then.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The region is prime ___ tourism.
2. She is in the prime ___ her career.
3. Choose the most natural sentence.

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Frequently asked questions

What does prime for mean?

It means suitable, ready, or ideal for something.

Is in the prime of fixed?

Yes. English normally uses the full phrase in the prime of.

Can prime be a verb?

Yes. To prime means to prepare something for use.

packed-with-to-in-on, into "paid for" or "paid up"? painful for, to, in, at or of? "palatable to" or "palatable for"? "pale in" or "pale of"? "pandemic of" or "pandemic in"? "paramount to" or "paramount in"? paranoid about, of, in, with or over? partial to, of, in, towards or for? participating in, of, on, at or for? "particular about" or "particular to"? part-time at, in, for, as or with?

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