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Definitions

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.

Considering all angles of the situation through the lens of your own well-being first and foremost will give you all the answers you need.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026

This perpetual instability likely led many Israelis, perhaps first and foremost Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, to believe that the regime was more brittle than it actually was.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

“It shows them, first and foremost, that you are interested and you are prepared.”

From MarketWatch • Apr. 3, 2026

Barrett responded: OK, but many slaves were brought here illegally, and everyone acknowledges that the point of the 14th Amendment first and foremost was to grant citizenship to them and their children.

From Slate • Apr. 1, 2026

“This is extremely serious, and first and foremost I’m glad to hear you say you are okay, Jules. I want you to know that’s my first concern.”

From "Tradition" by Brendan Kiely