above all
77
2.1
- idiom
:
sobre todo
- She values honesty above all in her personal relationships.
- above all else
- above all others
- value above all
It's not your fault, and above all, they won't change.
- It's not your fault, and above all, they won't change.
- Because these kids are most vulnerable and above all, they're like sponges.
- I want to thank you Blake, because above all, you have given me hope.
- But more than that, above all, acceptance.
- Laughing too loud, just being silly, but above all, being present in your own life.
- And not just studying it, learning from it too, and above all, acting on its lessons.
- One of these principles is, above all others, the most important principle.
- I'm reduced to one goal above all goals.
- Fear is good, dreaming is good, but above all else, you're going to have the passion.
- But but almost above all, it was just how Americans never sit still.
- Procopius describes the imperial couple as vicious, scheming, and, above all, greedy for money.
- As we know, Trump, above all else is a con artist and a grifter.
Examples
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Intelligence, hard work, discipline, courage, perhaps above all, love and faith.
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Above all, we must prioritize the safety of our children.
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Her husband values her opinion above all others'.
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Women desire one thing above all else.
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And it's also above all else about compromise.
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I want to thank you Blake, because above all, you have given me hope.
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Set goals, build a foundation, and above all, keep your integrity in check.
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One of these principles is, above all others, the most important principle.
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I share this with all the journalists who report the facts and who value the truth above all.
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And above all, he's always been her rock.
Synonyms
35
2.8
To show that one thing matters more than others
7
3.9
To show that something is more important than anything else
Most of all, more important than other things
Antonyms
How Important
Surface Forms
Morphology
above + all
The meaning 'more than anything else' is directly derivable from combining 'above' (over/higher than) with 'all' (everything) — literally 'over everything' — so a B1 learner who knows both words can infer the intended sense. This compositional pattern is common cross-linguistically (e.g. Spanish 'sobre todo', French 'par-dessus tout'), supporting full transparency.
Etymology
The phrase above all comes from the simple image of putting something above everything all, like placing a very important note on top of a pile so it is seen first. That's why it means 'more than anything else' or 'most importantly'.