above all

American  

[uh-buhv awl] / əˈbʌv ˈɔl /

idiom

1. most important of all; before everything else; chiefly.

   Above all, the little girl wanted a piano.

   He said that, above all else, he was a dad of two young children.

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above all More Idioms  

1. More than anything else, as in A winter hike calls for good equipment, but above all it requires careful planning. This phrase first appears in William Langland's Piers Ploughman (1377), in which the narrator exhorts readers to love the Lord God above all. Also see first and last.

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Etymology

Origin of above all

First recorded in 1350–1400

Example Sentences

Above all, Munden and his crew have done a fine job of wrangling good work from masses of kids, some quite little, in what must have been challenging conditions.

From Los Angeles Times • May 4, 2026

Above all, the current crisis could hit the costs of humanitarian aid and divert donor funds towards other priorities.

From Barron's • Apr. 4, 2026

Above all, size your positions like a grownup.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 26, 2026

"He also didn't let me settle. He was very good at challenging people and helping students be the best they can be. Above all, he's a very funny, genuine, nice guy."

From Science Daily • Mar. 21, 2026

Above all, unite, brothers and sisters, for in unity lies your strength.

From "Kaffir Boy: An Autobiography" by Mark Mathabane