above all

[ uh-buhv awl ]

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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of above all¹

First recorded in 1350–1400

Idioms and Phrases

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 .

Example Sentences

Above all they loved to watch videos together on TikTok.

From BBC

And, perhaps above all, Sasse hopes she’ll no longer have to worry so much about the crushing weight of inflation.

From Los Angeles Times

Catherine says of the meaning of Christmas: "Above all else, it encourages us to turn to love, not fear."

From BBC

It’s this unprecedented access to novelty and the exotic, that he prized above all else.

From Slate

No matter your approach, here’s hoping your Thanksgiving is warm, celebratory, and — above all — thankful.

From Salon