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

Daniel Yergin, one of the world’s foremost energy experts, notes how China has become resilient in a different way, by pouring oil into storage for a rainy day. —Alaa Shahine Salha, semafor.com, 11 Mar. 2026

Over the course of less than two decades, stop-motion animation house Laika has established itself as of one of the foremost makers of the beloved artform. —Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 9 Mar. 2026

Adverb

Forgetful Travelers First and foremost, the biggest cause for slowdowns at checkpoints is when passengers simply forget the TSA’s key rules. —Iona Brannon, Travel + Leisure, 7 Mar. 2026

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

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