/ ˈfɔːməʊst; NAmE ˈfɔːrmoʊst/ adjective , adverb
■ adjective
the most important or famous; in a position at the front :
the world's foremost authority on the subject
The Prime Minister was foremost among those who condemned the violence.
This question has been foremost in our minds recently.
■ adverb
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IDIOMS
see first adverb
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WORD ORIGIN
Old English formest , fyrmest , from forma first (ultimately a superlative formed from the Germanic base of fore ) + -est . Compare with first and former . The current spelling arose by association with fore and most .