adj
Common
foremost
FAW-mohst
Foremost (adj) means Most important, prominent, or advanced; leading. Example: “She is the foremost expert in her field.”
adj
1
Most important, prominent, or advanced; leading.
"She is the foremost expert in her field."
"Safety is our foremost concern."
"He was the foremost painter of his generation, admired by critics everywhere."
adv
1
First in order of importance.
"First and foremost, thank you all for coming."
How to use foremost
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe most important or leading one — often used in the phrase "first and foremost."
Common pairings
first and foremost
foremost expert
foremost concern
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Etymology
From Old English formest, meaning "earliest" or "most prominent," ultimately linked to the words for and first.
Synonyms
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Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “foremost” mean?
The word “foremost” means most important, prominent, or advanced; leading. In plain terms, the most important or leading one — often used in the phrase "first and foremost.".
How do you pronounce “foremost”?
“Foremost” is pronounced FAW-mohst (/ˈfɔː.məʊst/ in IPA).
How do you use “foremost” in a sentence?
Here is “foremost” used in a sentence: “She is the foremost expert in her field.”
What part of speech is “foremost”?
Depending on how it is used, “foremost” can be an adjective and an adverb.
Where does the word “foremost” come from?
The word “foremost” comes from Old English. From Old English formest, meaning "earliest" or "most prominent," ultimately linked to the words for and first.
Is “foremost” a common word?
“Foremost” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “foremost” have?
“Foremost” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: most important, prominent, or advanced; leading.
What is the difference between foremost and utmost?
Foremost means most important, prominent, or leading, often used to rank someone or something above others, as in "the foremost expert in the field." Utmost means the greatest possible degree of a quality, such as importance or care, and is not used to describe a person's rank or leading position in the same way.
What does it mean to say first and foremost?</p>
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