chief in importance or impact; supreme; preeminent.
a point of paramount significance.
above others in rank or authority; superior in power or jurisdiction.
See dominant.
First recorded in 1525–35; from Anglo-French paramont “above,” from par per- + amont “upward, above” (from Latin ad montem “to the mountain”; see ad-, mount 2)
To the President, protecting our nation's security is of paramount importance — it's at the very top of his to-do list. Paramount goes way beyond "important." It's absolutely critical. Something that is of paramount importance has a great urgency to it. Getting your oil changed is important, but making sure your car's brakes are working before you drive down a steep, icy slope is absolutely paramount.
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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Israeli military chief Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir said that "we continue to strike Hezbollah across all dimensions... the security of civilians and the safety of our forces remain paramount", a statement said.
From Barron's • May 24, 2026
The residency was lined up before I got pregnant, and even though I hate flying—and especially hate flying un-Xanaxed with a rapidly expanding belly—prioritizing writing time before my June due date has become paramount.
From Slate • May 10, 2026
Air Force officials stressed that security was a paramount concern.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 1, 2026
The prime minister's official spokesman also said the government "could not be clearer about the UK's position", and that "sovereignty rests with the UK and the islanders' right to self-determination is paramount".
From BBC • Apr. 24, 2026
He could not take it in, and his terror for the others was paramount.
From "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" by J.K. Rowling
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
