foremost

1 of 2

adjective

fore·​most ˈfȯr-ˌmōst 

1

: first in a series or progression

Safety is their foremost concern.

2

: of first rank or position : preeminent

He is the foremost authority on the American Civil War period.

foremost

2 of 2

adverb

1

: in the first place

2

: most importantly

first and foremost

Synonyms

Adjective

• arch
• big
• capital
• cardinal
• central
• chief
• dominant
• first
• grand
• great
• greatest
• highest
• key
• leading
• main
• master
• number one
• No. 1
• numero uno
• overbearing
• overmastering
• overriding
• paramount
• predominant
• preeminent
• premier
• primal
• primary
• principal
• prior
• sovereign
• sovran
• supreme

Examples of foremost in a Sentence

Adjective

Albert Einstein is regarded by many as the foremost figure of the 20th century.

wanted to speak to the foremost supervisor in our department

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Before becoming one of America’s foremost historians, a Pulitzer Prize winner and writer of seminal books on Abraham Lincoln (a basis for the Steven Spielberg film Lincoln), Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Teddy Roosevelt and Johnson, Kearns Goodwin became a White House Fellow under LBJ. —Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 14 Feb. 2025

At his death in 1996, he was considered one of the country’s foremost historians of the Black experience in America. —Jeffrey Boutwell, Baltimore Sun, 12 Feb. 2025

Adverb

Hospitality comes first and foremost without the formalities of fine dining. —Susan Stapleton, USA TODAY, 3 Feb. 2025

San Francisco is instead revealed as thriving in many aspects, arts and culture foremost among them. —Chadd Scott, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective and Adverb

Middle English formest, from Old English, superlative of forma first; akin to Old High German fruma advantage, Old English fore fore

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adverb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing foremost

• first and foremost
• foremost/uppermost in someone's mind

Kids Definition

foremost

adjective

fore·​most

-ˌmōst

: first in time, place, or order : most important

foremost adverb