utmost

[ uht-mohstor, especially British, -muhst ]

adjective

1. of the greatest or highest degree, quantity, or the like; greatest:

   of the utmost importance.

   Synonyms: major, chief, foremost, maximum

2. being at the farthest point or extremity; farthest:

   the utmost reef of the island.

noun

1. Also the greatest degree or amount:

   the utmost that can be said;

   The hotel provides the utmost in comfort.

2. the most or best of one's abilities, powers, etc.:

   He did his utmost to finish on time.

3. the extreme limit or extent:

   His patience was taxed to the utmost.

utmost

/ ˈʌtˌməʊst /

adjective

1. of the greatest possible degree or amount

   the utmost degree

2. at the furthest limit

   the utmost town on the peninsula

noun

1. the greatest possible degree, extent, or amount

   he tried his utmost

Word History and Origins

Origin of utmost¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English utmest, Old English ūtemest; equivalent to out + -most

Word History and Origins

Origin of utmost¹

Old English ūtemest, from ūte out + -mest most

Example Sentences

Lawler notes that in the Zoroastrian religion of the Persians, the rooster was of the utmost importance.

From The Daily Beast

UPDATE: As of this writing, news of the utmost ghastliness has emerged from the Brazil camp.

From The Daily Beast

For growing school-kids, healthy lunch is of utmost importance.

From The Daily Beast

I don't get to spend my money or my time with utmost selfishness.

From The Daily Beast

I have the utmost respect for them as colleagues, and value the work they do immensely.

From The Daily Beast

The minister's eye kept steady to one point; to raise the country he governed, to the utmost pinnacle of earthly grandeur.

From Project Gutenberg

It was with the utmost difficulty that his wiser subordinates got him to disarm the sepoy regiments in Agra itself.

From Project Gutenberg

In the eighth line we have “bells” seven times repeated in all—bells being taken in their utmost generality, viz., musical action.

From Project Gutenberg

Never did events of the utmost magnitude hinge on incidents so trivial to the community at large.

From Project Gutenberg

The utmost care has been taken in verifying the stock-sheets with the registers, and with checking the volumes themselves.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• absolute
• all-out
• sheer
• ultimate
• unconditional