paramount

CEFRC1

/ˈpæɹəmaʊnt/

adjective · noun

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    adjective

    More important than anything else.

  2. 02

    adjective

    Extra detail

    Of a law, right, etc.: having precedence over or superior to another.

Examples

  • It is paramount that the container be thoroughly inspected.

  • It is paramount to all the others.

At a glance

Sits at C1 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
2
Citations
2
Synonyms
5

Deep Dive

adjective

Extra meanings

  1. Of the highest importance.

  2. Highest, supreme; also, chief, leading, pre-eminent.

noun

Extra meaning

  1. A chief or superior; (specifically, chiefly South Africa) an African chief having the highest status in a region; a paramount chief.

More examples

In context

  • The idea is of paramount importance.

  • Getting those credit cards paid off is paramount.

  • Hitherto she had chiefly dwelt on her unkindness and neglect; but absence, like charity, covers a multitude of sins; and the thought now paramount was, that she should see her no more.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Quick test

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Question 1 · Quick check

Worker safety is blank in this dangerous job, above all other concerns.

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Nearby

Origin

adjective

PIE word *h₂éd From Anglo-Norman paramont /paramount (“paramount, pre-eminent; above”), from Old French par /per (“by”) + amont /amunt (“upward”). Par is derived from Latin per (“by means of, through”), from Proto-Indo-European *per- (“to go through; to carry forth, fare”); amont and amunt are from Latin ad montem (“to the mountain; upward”), from ad (“up to”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂éd (“at; to”)) + montem (the accusative singular of mōns (“mount, mountain”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *men- (“to stand out, tower”)).