foremost
Leading in rank
Foremost means first in rank, importance, or position: She was the foremost expert in her field.
It can also mean physically in front: He was foremost among those charging the gate.
The word often pairs with first for emphasis: first and foremost.
One who guides others
- chiefTop-ranking leader
- headUppermost body part
- principalChief school administrator
- captainOne who commands
commander · director · guide · spearhead · vanguard · forefront · front · ahead
Easily noticed or distinguished
- distinguishedNotable and respected
- eminentHigh in rank, respected
- renownedWidely known and esteemed
- illustriousWidely admired for achievements
celebrated · acclaimed · respected · esteemed · notable · outstanding · preeminent · famed
Highest in quality
- greatestSurpassing all others
- finestSuperlative in quality
- supremeHighest in authority
- topUppermost part or surface
highest · ultimate · paramount · premier · preeminent · unrivaled · unsurpassed · peerless
Chief or primary element
- chiefTop-ranking leader
- principalChief school administrator
- primeReadying for action
- centralIn the middle, primary
key · essential · fundamental · core · basic · paramount · cardinal · predominant
Being the first through
- groundbreakingIntroducing radical new ideas
- innovativeIntroducing new ideas
- originalFirst or inventive
- firstPosition number one
earliest · foundational · seminal · pathbreaking · avant-garde · cutting-edge · revolutionary · unprecedented
leader
One who guides others
captain · commander · director · guide · spearhead · vanguard · forefront · front · ahead · first
prominent
Easily noticed or distinguished
- distinguishedNotable and respected
- eminentHigh in rank, respected
- renownedWidely known and esteemed
illustrious · celebrated · acclaimed · respected · esteemed · notable · outstanding · preeminent · famed · reputable
best
Highest in quality
top · highest · ultimate · paramount · premier · preeminent · unrivaled · unsurpassed · peerless · matchless
main
Chief or primary element
central · key · essential · fundamental · core · basic · paramount · cardinal · predominant · primary
trailblazing
Being the first through
- groundbreakingIntroducing radical new ideas
- innovativeIntroducing new ideas
- originalFirst or inventive
first · earliest · foundational · seminal · pathbreaking · avant-garde · cutting-edge · revolutionary · unprecedented · visionary
- rankingsrankings, first, college rankings, second, third
- first choicetop pick, favorite, number one, first dibs, dibs
- firstsfirst, initial, beginning, start, opening
- top tierelite, premier, premium, prime, best
- superlativesexcellent, superb, best, outstanding, supreme
- ordinalsfirst, second, third, fourth, fifth
- first and foremostMost important, before others
most, before, beforehand, fore, heretofore, aforesaid, aforementioned, aforethought