first and foremost

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.

Example Sentences

He said that although a lot of other elements had been incorporated into the project it remained, first and foremost, a flood protection scheme.

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It was first and foremost a victory for the Mark Walter-led Guggenheim Baseball Management.

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But he is first and foremost a footballer, as the Australians put it - a man dedicated to his craft who takes more pleasure from defensive plays than scoring tries.

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“Chris Ponnet was, first and foremost, a man of God,” his sister-in-law Dawn said.

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First and foremost, I respect — and deeply relate to — your desire to celebrate your birthday on a budget.

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Related Words

• basically 
• chiefly 
• generally 
• importantly www.thesaurus.com
• largely 
• mostly 
• notably 
• particularly 
• predominantly www.thesaurus.com