first and foremost

ADVERB

mainly

Synonyms

STRONG

chiefly primarily principally

WEAK

above all essentially generally in general in the main largely most of all mostly on the whole overall predominantly substantially to the greatest extent usually

Antonyms

STRONG

secondarily

ADVERB

primarily

Synonyms

WEAK

at first at the start from the start in the first place initially originally primitively

Antonyms

WEAK

finally secondarily

ADVERB

principally

Synonyms

STRONGEST

basically chiefly generally importantly largely mostly notably particularly predominantly

STRONG

primarily

WEAK

above all before anything else cardinally dominantly eminently especially essentially first of all for the most part fundamentally in the first place in the main materially peculiarly preeminently prevailingly prevalently substantially superlatively supremely to a great degree universally vitally

Antonyms

WEAK

secondarily trivially

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"Obviously, first and foremost, it was absolute disappointment," she said.

From BBC • Jun. 7, 2026

It’s not trivializing this summit or missing the point, I would argue, to understand it as first and foremost a semiotic spectacle, conducted through language, symbols and signifiers.

From Salon • May 17, 2026

“The two things that consumers notice and complain about first and foremost are rises in food and fuel prices. Yet, in this case, they continue to spend because they have the money to do so.”

From The Wall Street Journal • May 14, 2026

There is a bizarre universe built around the prestige and untouchability of the court that is first and foremost perpetuated by the people on the court.

From Slate • May 13, 2026

But, first and foremost, I was a fifteen-year-old boy.

From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss

first and foremost

Example Sentences

Related Words