utmost

[uht-mohst or, esp. British, -muhst]

SEE MORE 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.

Origin of utmost

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

Can be confusedupmost uppermost utmost

Synonyms for utmost

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR utmost ON THESAURUS.COM

1. maximum, highest, foremost, chief, major.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for utmost

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

Examples from the Web for utmost

Contemporary Examples of utmost

Lawler notes that in the Zoroastrian religion of the Persians, the rooster was of the utmost importance.
The History of the Chicken: How This Humble Bird Saved Humanity
William O’Connor
December 27, 2014
UPDATE: As of this writing, news of the utmost ghastliness has emerged from the Brazil camp.
Brazil and Colombia Bring the Ugly Game
Tunku Varadarajan
July 4, 2014
For growing school-kids, healthy lunch is of utmost importance.
The Government is Still Failing Kids on School Lunches
Russell Saunders
May 25, 2014
I don't get to spend my money or my time with utmost selfishness.
Mommy’s Little Secret? Coffee And Booze.
Sally Kohn
May 11, 2014
I have the utmost respect for them as colleagues, and value the work they do immensely.
Why Nurses Should Be Able to Practice Without Doctors
Russell Saunders
May 9, 2014

Historical Examples of utmost

They landed, and with the utmost haste proceeded toward the city.
Philothea
Lydia Maria Child
He was still exerting his strength to the utmost when the whistle of the locomotive was heard.
Brave and Bold
Horatio Alger
He sprang to the rock, and exerted his utmost strength to dislodge it.
Brave and Bold
Horatio Alger
The wayfarers all gazed in the utmost astonishment at the interruption.
The White Company
Arthur Conan Doyle
Then he went on quickly, with a tone of utmost positiveness.
Within the Law
Marvin Dana

British Dictionary definitions for utmost

utmost

uttermost

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

Word Origin and History for utmost

Old English utmest (Anglian) "outermost," double superlative of ut "out" (see out) + -most.