You can use utmost to emphasize the importance or seriousness of something or to emphasize the way that it is done.
[emphasis]
It is a matter of the utmost urgency to find out what has happened to these people.
Security matters are treated with the utmost seriousness.
You should proceed with the utmost caution.
Utmost care must be taken not to spill any of the contents.
Synonyms: greatest, highest, maximum, supreme More Synonyms of utmost
2. singular noun
If you say that you are doing your utmostto do something, you are emphasizing that you are trying as hard as you can to do it.
[formal, emphasis]
He would have done his utmost to help her, of that she was certain.
He will try his utmost to help them by means of his conventional medical knowledge.
Synonyms: best, greatest, maximum, most More Synonyms of utmost
3.
See to the utmost
More Synonyms of utmost
utmost in British English
(ˈʌtˌməʊst) or uttermost
adjective(prenominal)
1.
of the greatest possible degree or amount
the utmost degree
2.
at the furthest limit
the utmost town on the peninsula
noun
3.
the greatest possible degree, extent, or amount
he tried his utmost
Word origin
Old English ūtemest, from ūte out + -mestmost
utmost in American English
(ˈʌtˌmoʊst)
adjective
1.
situated at the farthest point or limit; most extreme or distant; farthest
2.
of or to the greatest or highest degree, amount, number, etc.; greatest
noun
3.
the most or the greatest that is possible; extreme limit or degree
Word origin
ME utemest < OE utemest, ytemest, double superl. of ut, out
Examples of 'utmost' in a sentence
utmost
Those guys deserve our utmost respect.
The Sun (2016)
The welfare of our contestants is always of the utmost importance to us.
The Sun (2012)
But the bottom line remains one of utmost gravity.
The Sun (2013)
We are treating it with the utmost seriousness.
The Sun (2012)
It is utmost respect for the individual and consideration for personal dignity.
Kishlansky, Mark A. (editor) Sources of the West: Readings in Western Civilization, Volume 1: From the Beginningto 1715 (1995)
This is a matter that needs to be addressed with the utmost urgency.
Coyle, Andrew & Stern, Vivien The Prisons We Deserve (1994)
The safety of our people is of utmost importance.
The Sun (2014)
The courts treat this offence with the utmost seriousness.
The Sun (2010)
Tell him that it is of the utmost urgency.
Iain Gale Man of Honour (2007)
Quality sleep is of utmost importance to your emotional and physical wellbeing.
The Sun (2012)
It is vital that all care homes treat this issue with the utmost seriousness.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Financial reform of the economy is therefore of the utmost urgency.
Aganbegyan, Abel Inside Perestroika: The Future of the Soviet Economy (1990)
Our respect for our lost brother is of the utmost importance to us.
The Sun (2013)
We shall renew our call to government to address this issue as a matter of the utmost urgency.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Now his security service is said to take the utmost care to avoid a repeat of the fiasco.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
He will be taken seriously and the most arcane tactical theories will be discussed with the utmost seriousness.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
These are allegations of utmost gravity.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
You have earned our utmost respect.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
We've got the utmost respect for this manager.
The Sun (2010)
There will be the utmost care for him whether it's from our doctors or the specialists.
The Sun (2012)
But I find it necessary to use the utmost caution about my eyesight.
George Eliot Middlemarch (1872)
They warned: 'The utmost caution is advised to skiers and walkers outside the secured areas.
The Sun (2013)
The judge said: 'This is an exceptional case of the utmost gravity.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Rather than attack the course, which is bound to be costly, he crept around it with the utmost caution.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
This access has enabled a gender usually reticent about experimenting, or trying something new, to do so with the utmost confidence.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
In other languages
utmost
British English: utmost ADJECTIVE
You can use utmost to emphasize the importance or seriousness of something or to emphasize the way that it is done.
It is a matter of the utmost urgency to find out what has happened to these people.
American English: utmost
Brazilian Portuguese: maior
Chinese: 最大的
European Spanish: mayor
French: extrême
German: äußerste
Italian: estremo
Japanese: 最大の
Korean: 최고의
European Portuguese: maior
Latin American Spanish: mayor
British English: utmost NOUN
If you say that you are doing your utmost to do something, you are emphasizing that you are trying as hard as you can to do it.
He would have done his utmost to help her, of that she was certain.
American English: utmost
Brazilian Portuguese: o máximo possível
Chinese: 最大努力
European Spanish: máximo
French: possible
German: Äußerste
Italian: tutto il possibile
Japanese: 最高の
Korean: 최선
European Portuguese: o máximo possível
Latin American Spanish: máximo
All related terms of 'utmost'
to the utmost
If you say that something is done to the utmost , you are emphasizing that it is done to the greatest extent , amount, or degree possible .
utmost importance
The importance of something is its quality of being significant , valued, or necessary in a particular situation .
the utmost respect
If you have respect for someone, you have a good opinion of them.
utmost good faith
a principle used in insurance contracts , legally obliging all parties to reveal to the others any information that might influence the others' decision to enter into the contract
uberrima fides
a principle used in insurance contracts , legally obliging all parties to reveal to the others any information that might influence the others' decision to enter into the contract
Chinese translation of 'utmost'
utmost
(ˈʌtməust)
adj
极(極)度的 (jídù de)
n
to do one's utmost (to do sth)竭尽(盡)全力(做某事) (jiéjìn quánlì (zuò mǒushì))
of the utmost importance最重要的 (zuì zhòngyào de)
1 (adjective)
Definition
of the greatest possible degree or amount
Security matters are treated with the utmost seriousness.
Synonyms
greatest
highest
maximum
The maximum height for a fence here is 2 metres.
supreme
Many young men made the supreme sacrifice during that war.
extreme
people living in extreme poverty
paramount
The welfare of the children must be of paramount importance.
pre-eminent
He is the pre-eminent political figure in the country.
2 (adjective)
Definition
at the furthest limit
The break-up tested our resolve to its utmost limits.
Synonyms
farthest
extreme
the room at the extreme end of the corridor
last
the last three pages of the chapter
final
the final book in the series
outermost
uttermost
farthermost
(noun)
Definition
the greatest possible degree or amount
I'm going to do my utmost to climb as fast and as far as I can.
Synonyms
best
You must do your best to protect yourselves.
greatest
maximum
The law provides for a maximum of two years in prison.
most
highest
hardest
Additional synonyms
in the sense of extreme
Definition
of a high or the highest degree or intensity
people living in extreme poverty
Synonyms
great,
high,
highest,
greatest,
worst,
supreme,
acute,
severe,
maximum,
intense,
ultimate,
utmost,
mother of all (informal),
uttermost
in the sense of extreme
Definition
farthest or outermost
the room at the extreme end of the corridor
Synonyms
farthest,
furthest,
far,
final,
last,
ultimate,
remotest,
terminal,
utmost,
far-off,
faraway,
outermost,
most distant,
uttermost
in the sense of final
Definition
of or occurring at the end
the final book in the series
Synonyms
last,
latest,
end,
closing,
finishing,
concluding,
ultimate,
terminal,
last-minute,
eventual,
terminating
Synonyms of 'utmost'
utmost
Explore 'utmost' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of last
Definition
most extreme
the last three pages of the chapter
Synonyms
final,
closing,
concluding,
ultimate,
utmost
in the sense of maximum
Definition
of, being, or showing a maximum or maximums
The maximum height for a fence here is 2 metres.
Synonyms
greatest,
highest,
supreme,
paramount,
utmost,
most,
maximal,
topmost
in the sense of maximum
Definition
the greatest amount recorded, allowed, or reached
The law provides for a maximum of two years in prison.
Synonyms
top,
most,
peak,
ceiling,
crest,
utmost,
upper limit,
uttermost
in the sense of paramount
Definition
of the greatest importance
The welfare of the children must be of paramount importance.
Synonyms
principal,
prime,
first,
chief,
main,
capital,
primary,
supreme,
outstanding,
superior,
dominant,
cardinal,
foremost,
eminent,
predominant,
pre-eminent
in the sense of pre-eminent
Definition
outstanding
He is the pre-eminent political figure in the country.
Synonyms
outstanding,
supreme,
paramount,
chief,
excellent,
distinguished,
superior,
renowned,
foremost,
consummate,
predominant,
transcendent,
unrivalled,
incomparable,
peerless,
unsurpassed,
unequalled,
matchless
in the sense of supreme
Definition
greatest in degree
Many young men made the supreme sacrifice during that war.