foremost

1 coming before all others in importance Albert Einstein is regarded by many as the foremost figure of the 20th century Synonyms arch, big, capital, cardinal, central, chief, dominant, first, grand, great, greatest, highest, key, leading, main, master, number one (also No. 1), numero uno, overbearing, overmastering, overriding, paramount, predominant, preeminent, premier, primal, primary, principal, prior, sovereign (also sovran), supreme Related Words distinguished, eminent, illustrious, noble, notable, noteworthy, outstanding, prestigious, signal, star, stellar, superior; high-level, senior, top; important, influential, major, mighty, momentous, significant; incomparable, matchless, unequaled (or unequalled), unparalleled, unsurpassed; celebrated, famed, famous, renowned Near Antonyms inconsequential, inconsiderable, insignificant, minor, negligible, slight, trifling, trivial, unimportant; collateral, inferior, secondary, subordinate, subsidiary Antonyms last, least

2 highest in rank or authority wanted to speak to the foremost supervisor in our department Synonyms chief, commanding, first, head, high, lead, leading, preeminent, premier, presiding, primary, prime, principal, supereminent, supreme, topRelated Words high-level, senior; controlling, directing, managing, officiating, overseeing, regnant, reigning, ruling, supervisory; main, major, paramount, predominant, predominate, sovereign (also sovran); ascendant (also ascendent), dominant, grand, superior, topmost, upmost, upper, uppermostNear Antonyms ancillary, inferior, last, less, lesser, lower, lowly, second, secondary, subordinate, subsidiary; assistant, assisting, coadjutor, deputy, junior, under

3 coming before all others in time or order when the foremost person in line tripped, everyone had to stop Synonyms earliest, first, headmost, inaugural, initial, leadoff, maiden, original, pioneer, premier, virginRelated Words ancient, early, primal, primary, prime, primeval, primitive, primordial; antecedent, preceding, previousNear Antonyms advanced, late; consequent, ensuing, following, subsequent, succeeding; penultimateAntonyms final, last, latest, latter, terminal, terminating, ultimate