first and foremost

Idioms  

1. Also, first of all. Most important, primarily; also, to begin with. For example, First and foremost, I want to thank our sponsors, or What we need, first and foremost, is a new secretary, or We have to deal, first of all, with the early history. The first term, dating from the late 1300s, is redundant, since first and foremost mean virtually the same thing. Both it and the variant, which dates from the mid-1500s, are used to give emphasis to the initial item in a list of several. Also see first off; first thing.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

first and foremost

“Hadestown” is a love story first and foremost, set in a joyous juke joint, the band ringing the stage.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 2026

The bonds are investment grade, first and foremost, so the risk of issuers defaulting is relatively low.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 24, 2026

"The responsibility for the safety of children and adolescents must first and foremost lie with those who design and manage digital platforms," EU lawmaker Sandro Ruotolo said in a statement.

From Barron's ● Jul. 14, 2026

But I am, first and foremost, a researcher, so I did the research into it.

From BBC ● Jul. 12, 2026

Professor Putnam had believed the Midway ought first and foremost to provide an education about alien cultures.

From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson

Related Words

• basically
• chiefly
• generally
• importantly
• largely
• mostly
• notably
• particularly
• predominantly