Dictionary.com

utmost

[ uht-mohst or, especially British, -muhst ]
/ ˈʌtˌmoʊst or, especially British, -məst /
Save This Word!
See synonyms for: utmost / utmosts 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.
QUIZ
CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?
There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?
Question 1 of 7
Which sentence is correct?

Origin of utmost

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

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH utmost

upmost, uppermost, utmost
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use utmost in a sentence

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 ƫtemest, from ƫte 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
FEEDBACK