foremost
adjective
[ ˈfɔːməʊst ]
• most prominent in rank, importance, or position.
• "one of the foremost art collectors of his day"
Similar:
leading,
principal,
premier,
prime,
elite,
top,
top-tier,
top-level,
first-rate,
greatest,
best,
supreme,
pre-eminent,
major,
most important,
most prominent,
most influential,
most skilled,
most illustrious,
outstanding,
notable,
noteworthy,
of note,
first,
primary,
main,
paramount,
chief,
key,
central,
ranking,
number-one,
top-notch,
foremost
adverb
• before anything else in rank, importance, or position; in the first place.
• "it was, foremost, the first unequivocal demonstration of the process"
Origin:
Old English formest, fyrmest, from forma ‘first’ (ultimately a superlative formed from the Germanic base of fore) + -est1. Compare with first and former1. The current spelling arose by association with fore and most.
first and foremost
• most importantly; more than anything else.
• "he considered himself first and foremost a writer"
