paramount

More important than anything else; supreme; having the highest rank or authority.

• (no common derivatives)

• of paramount importance
• paramount concern
• paramount to
• safety is paramount
• paramount interest

1. 1.Patient safety is of paramount importance in any hospital. (most important)
2. 2.The paramount concern during the evacuation was ensuring no one was left behind. (overriding)

• supreme/suːˈpriːm/— highest in rank or authority
• foremost/ˈfɔːrmoʊst/— most important
• overriding/ˌoʊvərˈraɪdɪŋ/— more important than all other considerations

from Anglo-French "paramont" (above) — par (by) + amont (above) from Latin "ad montem" (to the mountain) — the thing at the top of the mountain