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

Far worse, we've swung from hopes of East-West friendship to a four-year-long war in Europe that has been devastating, first and foremost, for Ukraine.

From BBC

First and foremost, they expect elected officials to address urgent problems like rising prices and runaway healthcare costs, the lack of affordable housing, poverty and need.

From The Wall Street Journal

"First and foremost, Ran must be brought home," they said.

From BBC

"I am first and foremost in Greenland today to show our strong Danish support for the Greenlandic people," she told reporters.

From BBC

"This milestone belongs first and foremost to the fans around the world whose enthusiasm made it possible," Disney Entertainment co-chairman Alan Bergman said in a statement.

From BBC

Related Words

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