paramount
1 Americanadjective
-
chief in importance or impact; supreme; preeminent.
a point of paramount significance.
- Antonyms:
- unimportant
-
above others in rank or authority; superior in power or jurisdiction.
noun
noun
adjective
noun
Related Words
See dominant.
Other Word Forms
- paramountcy noun
- paramountly adverb
- superparamount adjective
Etymology
Origin of paramount
First recorded in 1525–35; from Anglo-French paramont “above,” from par per- + amont “upward, above” (from Latin ad montem “to the mountain”; ad-, mount 2 )
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.
Ali Khamenei had the final say on all matters of Iran’s national security as the paramount leader.
"As always, in any armed conflict, it is civilians who end up paying the ultimate price," he said, before reminding those involved that protecting civilians is "paramount" under international law.
From BBC
In the speed disciplines, finding the ideal line is paramount.
From Los Angeles Times
Safety is paramount, but efficiency and quickness are important as well.
From Los Angeles Times
Evercore ISI analyst Amit Daryanani said in a Tuesday note that Apple’s delay reflects user privacy is “paramount, with Apple prioritizing data protection along with seamless integration before launching the upgrades.”
From MarketWatch
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
