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• paramount
  paramount

  adjective

  chief in importance or impact; supreme; preeminent.
• Paramount
  Paramount

  noun

  a city in SW California, near Los Angeles.

paramount

¹ American  

[par-uh-mount] / ˈpær əˌmaʊnt /

adjective

1. chief in importance or impact; supreme; preeminent.

   a point of paramount significance.

   Antonyms:

   unimportant

2. above others in rank or authority; superior in power or jurisdiction.

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noun

1. a supreme ruler; overlord.

Paramount ² American  

[par-uh-mount] / ˈpær əˌmaʊnt /

noun

1. a city in SW California, near Los Angeles.

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paramount British  

/ ˈpærəˌmaʊnt /

adjective

1. of the greatest importance or significance; pre-eminent

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noun

1. rare a supreme ruler

Synonym Usage

See dominant.

Other Word Forms

• paramountcy
  noun
• superparamount
  adjective
• paramountly
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of paramount

First recorded in 1525–35; from Anglo-French paramont “above,” from par per- + amont “upward, above” (from Latin ad montem “to the mountain”; see ad-, mount ²)

Explanation

To the President, protecting our nation's security is of paramount importance — it's at the very top of his to-do list. Paramount goes way beyond "important." It's absolutely critical. Something that is of paramount importance has a great urgency to it. Getting your oil changed is important, but making sure your car's brakes are working before you drive down a steep, icy slope is absolutely paramount.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

paramount Paramount

"Guaranteeing our naval and joint forces have the lethal firepower they need to deter aggression and protect the homeland is paramount," Cao said in a statement.

From Barron's ● Aug. 17, 2026

With hiring managers prioritizing in-person work and AI able to tackle routine tasks that traditionally monopolized entry-level workers’ time, one could argue being agreeable is paramount.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 13, 2026

An Etsy spokesperson said it had removed all the listings flagged by Which?, adding: "Keeping our users safe is paramount."

From BBC ● Jul. 8, 2026

Note: Deng Xiaoping was considered China's paramount leader without ever holding the Communist Party's top political office as chairman or general secretary.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 5, 2026

I agreed that getting my college degree was paramount, but I wanted to do it in an environment where I could feel comfortable.

From "How Dare the Sun Rise" by Sandra Uwiringiyimana

In interviews, she has been unsparing about what she sees as coming next in American media consolidation, warning that a CNN controlled by David Ellison — who purchased Paramount and CBS — would be “tragic.”

From Salon ● Aug. 20, 2026

Tech scion David Ellison’s company wants the coalition of 12 states and the WGA to cover the ‘ticking fees’ that Paramount could incur due to Warner deal delays.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2026

Paramount hoped the trial over Bonta’s lawsuit would begin in November but U.S.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2026

Ellison is looking to finalize his massive Hollywood deal — folding CNN, HBO, TBS, Food Network and the Warner Bros. film and television studios under Paramount — as quickly as possible.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2026

For reasons Salim does not understand, his brother-in-law’s business partners have booked him into the Paramount Hotel on Forty-sixth Street.

From "American Gods" by Neil Gaiman

Related Words

• outstanding
• predominant
• preeminent