utmost
Americanadjective
noun
-
Also 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.
adjective
-
of the greatest possible degree or amount
the utmost degree
-
at the furthest limit
the utmost town on the peninsula
noun
Etymology
Origin of utmost
First recorded before 900; Middle English utmest, Old English ūtemest; equivalent to out + -most
Explanation
Utmost means "the greatest extent or amount." When you work as hard as you possibly can, you do your utmost to accomplish your goal. Whenever something is the most, it can be described as the utmost. If a message is of the utmost importance, it's as important as it possibly can be. Any time you want to really want to emphasize that you believe in something more than anything else or truly intend to do something, do your utmost to use the word utmost.
Vocabulary lists containing utmost
Vocabulary from the Magna Carta on its 800th Anniversary
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"American Names"
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
After reporting the potential rule breaches, Chelsea said that it "treated these matters with the utmost seriousness, providing full cooperation to all relevant regulators".
From BBC ● Sep. 10, 2026
The ruling was an order refusing to lift a lower court’s stay of execution—a decision of utmost importance to one of the parties, but a routine matter for the justices.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 9, 2026
And Parton’s utmost sincerity keeps Bree’s story from ever feeling like a half-thought platitude.
From Salon ● Aug. 28, 2026
That has sidelined Seoul, with Lee voicing respect for Trump's decision and pledging to "do his utmost" to support his peacemaking efforts.
From Barron's ● Aug. 21, 2026
“There were about ninety of us in that strange caravan, traveling silently in the utmost secrecy,” said William Laurence, a New York Times reporter, and the only non-scientist in the group.
From "Bomb" by Steve Sheinkin
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.
