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.

"We are first and foremost overcome with grief," said local resident Eli Zavala, who was helping with the burials.

From Barron's • Jul. 5, 2026

"In Jordan you see reliability and robustness first and foremost," said Benson.

From BBC • Jun. 21, 2026

“You should buy it because you want and/or need a death benefit that will last your entire life, because first and foremost, this is life insurance.”

From MarketWatch • Jun. 16, 2026

“Disclosure Day” is first and foremost just a lot of fun, a showcase for Spielberg’s gifts as a filmmaker and his longstanding collaborations with cinematographer Janusz Kaminski and composer John Williams.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 11, 2026

He'd need to make sure he was ready, and to put his best foot forward, first and foremost, he needed to not smell like a...forward foot.

From "Look Both Ways" by Jason Reynolds

first and foremost

Example Sentences

Related Words