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 Revolutionary period.

foremost

2 of 2

adverb

1

: in the first place

2

: most importantly

first and foremost

Synonyms of foremost

Adjective

• main
• greatest
• highest
• primary
• first
• predominant
• dominant
• big
• leading
• chief

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

Van Lent had devoted his career to the Florida Everglades, becoming its foremost hydrologist, mapping the flow of water and studying how that affected the entire system. —Michael Adno, Rolling Stone, 3 Mar. 2026

Regardless, some of today’s foremost directors are channeling the days before bingeing applied to content, before art was dubbed content — back when all audiences needed was slo-mo running on a beach. —Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 3 Mar. 2026

Adverb

Since the 1979 Revolution, Iranian political factions have argued—ferociously and sometimes fatally—about whether the Islamic Republic is foremost Islamic or primarily a republic. —Robin Wright, New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2026

But, foremost, this position group is undergoing an identity shift under the new offensive coaching staff. —Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2026

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

Rhymes for foremost

• diagnosed
• easternmost
• innermost
• lowermost
• milepost
• northernmost
• outermost
• rearmost
• southernmost
• uppermost
• uttermost
• westernmost

Kids Definition

foremost

adjective

fore·​most

-ˌmōst

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

foremost adverb