paramount
adjective
chief in importance or impact; supreme; preeminent.
paramount
1 American
[par-uh-maunt]
/ ˈpær əˌmaʊnt /
adjective
-
chief in importance or impact; supreme; preeminent.
a point of paramount significance.
- Antonyms:
- unimportant
-
above others in rank or authority; superior in power or jurisdiction.
noun
Paramount
2
American
[par-uh-maunt]
/ ˈpær əˌmaʊnt /
noun
paramount
British
/ ˈpærəˌmaʊnt /
adjective
noun
Synonym Usage
See dominant.
Other Word Forms
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.
Vocabulary lists containing paramount
"The Odyssey" by Homer, Books 8–13
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Frankenstein
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Very Necessary: Synonyms for "Important"
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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.
See Examples For:
Huang, in his trademark leather jacket, said safety is paramount but an engineering problem.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 16, 2026
All four Mosley kids — their daughter, Jalyn, and three boys, Emmett Jr., Trent and Grant — were brought up on the principle that preparation was paramount.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026
“Protecting policyholders remains paramount in every decision, every exam, and every effort of my department,” Delaware insurance commissioner Trinidad Navarro said in a statement.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026
The Welsh Government said the safety of pupils and staff was of "paramount importance".
From BBC ● Aug. 24, 2026
Josquin was the first composer in history for whom the meaning of the words being sung was paramount.
From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall
It also comes as Paramount Skydance’s $111-billion acquisition of Warner Bros.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 4, 2026
Paramount has already told Wall Street that it’s planning $6 billion in cost cuts.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 4, 2026
Paramount has told investors it expects $6 billion in annual synergies within three years of combining operations, sparking concern in Hollywood about layoffs.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 3, 2026
Paramount streaming head Cindy Holland stepped down on Tuesday, clearing the way for Bloys.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 3, 2026
He even had a studio contract with Paramount.
From Full of Beans by Jennifer L. Holm
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
