Synonyms

foremost

American

[fawr-mohst, -muhst, fohr-] / ˈfɔrˌmoʊst, -məst, ˈfoʊr- /

adjective

first in place, order, rank, etc..

the foremost surgeons.

Synonyms:

paramount, principal, chief, prime, primary

foremost British

/ ˈfɔːˌməʊst /

adjective

first in time, place, rank, etc

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

foremost Idioms

see first and foremost.

Etymology

Origin of foremost

before 1000; fore ¹ + -most; replacing Middle English, Old English formest, equivalent to form ( a ) first, variant of fruma (compare Latin prīmus ) + -est -est ¹

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Magic Johnson, the Dodgers’ co-owner and the foremost winner in Los Angeles sports history, threw out the ceremonial first pitch before the Dodgers’ opener.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 2026

He said: "Our investigation into this tragic incident is still in its early stages and our thoughts first and foremost are with the victim's family, friends and loved ones."

From BBC • Apr. 4, 2026

“It shows them, first and foremost, that you are interested and you are prepared.”

From MarketWatch • Apr. 3, 2026

Barrett responded: OK, but many slaves were brought here illegally, and everyone acknowledges that the point of the 14th Amendment first and foremost was to grant citizenship to them and their children.

From Slate • Apr. 1, 2026

Her parents had sent Hatsue to Mrs. Shigemura with the intent that the girl would not forget that she was first and foremost Japanese.

From "Snow Falling on Cedars: A Novel" by David Guterson

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023