utmost
noun
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Utmost, which typically communicates that something is of the greatest or highest in degree, number, or amount, is commonly found modifying words like importance, concern, and respect. But utmost can also indicate that something is, literally or figuratively, farthest or most distant—that it is outmost, as in “the utmost point.” Utmost in fact traces back to the Old English word ūtmest, a superlative adjective formed from the adverb ūt, meaning “out.” Utmost can also function as a noun referring to the highest attainable point or degree, as in “the inn provides the utmost in comfort and luxury.” The noun also often occurs in phrases such as “we did our utmost to help” where it means “the highest, greatest, or best of one’s abilities, powers, and resources.”
Examples of utmost in a Sentence
Idrees Kahloon, The Atlantic, 1 June 2026
That match with Fonseca was power tennis at its utmost.
—Ava Wallace, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2026
Guests are pampered in personal huts that provide the utmost in privacy and silence and can choose from a full menu of options, including massages and facials that highlight local traditions and skin-healthy ingredients.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Mar. 2026
Christopher Reeve is always watchable and gives his utmost to the character, but Lester’s descent into further comedy and camp led inevitably to a fourth sequel that killed the series off for decades.
—Mark Hughes, Forbes.com, 26 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for utmost
Cite this Entry
“Utmost.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/utmost. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
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