utmost

[ uht-mohst or, esp. British, -muhst ]
/ ˈʌtˌmoʊst or, esp. British, -məst /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR utmost ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

of the greatest or highest degree, quantity, or the like; greatest: of the utmost importance.
being at the farthest point or extremity; farthest: the utmost reef of the island.

noun

Also uttermost. the greatest degree or amount: the utmost that can be said; The hotel provides the utmost in comfort.
the most or best of one's abilities, powers, etc.: He did his utmost to finish on time.
the extreme limit or extent: His patience was taxed to the utmost.

QUIZZES

DO YOU KNOW THIS VOCABULARY FROM "THE HANDMAID'S TALE"?

"The Handmaid's Tale" was required reading for many of us in school. Everyone else has probably watched the very popular and addictive TV show. Do you remember this vocabulary from the book, and do you know what these terms mean?
Question 1 of 10
decorum
the act of or need for making up one's mind.
dignified propriety of behavior, speech, dress, etc.
a company of singers, especially an organized group employed in church service.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of utmost

before 900; Middle English utmest, Old English ūtemest. See out, -most

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH utmost

upmost uppermost utmost

Words nearby utmost

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Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to utmost

sheer, all-out, ultimate, unconditional, absolute, uttermost, entire, full, last, top, chief, outside, total, whole, final, complete, exhaustive, farthest, highest, most

Example sentences from the Web for utmost

British Dictionary definitions for utmost

utmost

uttermost

/ (ˈʌtˌməʊst) /

adjective (prenominal)

of the greatest possible degree or amountthe utmost degree
at the furthest limitthe utmost town on the peninsula

noun

the greatest possible degree, extent, or amounthe tried his utmost

Word Origin for utmost

Old English ūtemest, from ūte out + -mest most
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