foremost

Examples

• All

• The president's job is first and foremost dealing with Congress.

• But we mustn't forget, the Colonel was perhaps the foremost criminal lawyer in all France.

  Paths of Glory (1957)

• I think first and foremost, people need people.

• Dr. Lawrence is one of America's foremost scientists.

  Man-Made Monster (1941)

• Its subject, Antonio Triana, was the foremost Spanish dancer and teacher of his time.

  Academic text (2015)

• More importantly, the organization embraced a new mission as the nation's foremost proponent of civil rights for gays.

  Academic text (2013)

• His bedside manner is terrible, but he's one of the foremost surgeons in the country.

  Fiction book (2002)

• Mr. Rowell's name you will recognize; he is a foremost industrialist, chairman of Fanston International.

  Fiction book (1992)

• Dr. Lawrence is recognized as one of America's foremost scientists in the field of genetics.

• By the early 1990s, he had established himself as one of the foremost experts on the topic of climate change.

Synonyms

F

first

vsforemost

∞ 1.0

Coming before all others in order, time, or importance

means most important or outstanding in rank or position rather than simply earliest

M

main

vsforemost

∞ 1.0

Most important or central in a situation

focuses on rank, position, or outstanding status rather than simple importance

C

chief

vsforemost

∞ 3.2

The main thing that matters most

is about being most important or outstanding beyond formal rank

P

primary

vsforemost

∞ 2.5

Being most important or basic

stresses being first or most important in rank rather than foundational role

P

prime

vsforemost

807 3.8

Of the best quality and most important

emphasizes rank or position and being most important rather than quality only

S

supreme

vsforemost

737 3.9

Highest in rank, quality, or importance

covers being most important or outstanding in rank or position more broadly

P

principal

vsforemost

320 2.8

Most important person or thing in a situation

is used more generally for importance rather than specific official role

G

greatest

vsforemost

70 1.0

Better than all others in quality or importance

points to being most important or outstanding in rank or position instead of size

P

premier

vsforemost

61 4.5

Most important or best in a group of similar things

applies to general importance or outstanding status regardless of public ranking

P

paramount

vsforemost

45 6.7

More important than anything else

expresses general high importance or outstanding rank but less absolute supremacy

P

preeminent

vsforemost

17 8.0

The most respected and well known in a particular field

refers more to being most important by rank or position than distinguished fame

S

superlative

vsforemost

8 4.6

Of the highest quality

focuses on top importance or rank rather than pure quality or degree

U

uppermost

vsforemost

4.4

In the most important place in your mind

refers more to general importance or outstanding status beyond mere position

L

leading

vsforemost

3.1

Most important and successful in a field

is about overall importance or rank beyond success in one field

How Important

foremost

122 4.2

principal

320 2.8

major

∞ 1.0

important

∞ 1.0

notable

112 3.7

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology