paramount

1 of 2

adjective

par·​a·​mount ˈper-ə-ˌmau̇nt How to pronounce paramount (audio)
ˈpa-rə-
Synonyms of paramountnext
: superior to all others : supreme
a matter of paramount importance
Unemployment was the paramount issue in the election.
paramountcy
ˈper-ə-ˌmau̇n(t)-sē How to pronounce paramount (audio)
ˈpa-rə-
noun
paramountly
ˈper-ə-ˌmau̇nt-lē How to pronounce paramount (audio)
ˈpa-rə-
adverb

paramount

2 of 2

noun

: a supreme ruler

Synonyms

Adjective

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 
Choose the Right Synonym for paramount

dominant, predominant, paramount, preponderant mean superior to all others in influence or importance.

dominant applies to something that is uppermost because ruling or controlling.

a dominant social class

predominant applies to something that exerts, often temporarily, the most marked influence.

a predominant emotion

paramount implies supremacy in importance, rank, or jurisdiction.

unemployment was the paramount issue in the campaign

preponderant applies to an element or factor that outweighs all others in influence or effect.

preponderant evidence in her favor

Examples of paramount in a Sentence

Adjective the paramount goal is to restore the colonial-era house with complete historical accuracy maintaining the secrecy of the agreement is of paramount importance
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
Well-Being: First and foremost, the impact on employee well-being is paramount. —Steve Osler, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024 When a material is holding up bridges and skyscrapers, safety is paramount. —Lara Williams, The Mercury News, 5 Nov. 2024 Adaptive leadership – the ability to navigate constant change and ambiguity with agility and resilience – is now paramount. —Chris Morris, Fortune, 5 Nov. 2024 However, this strategy may limit Tesla’s scalability in commercial autonomous services, where reliability and safety are paramount. —Michael Khouw, CNBC, 4 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for paramount 

Word History

Etymology

Adjective and Noun

Anglo-French paramont, from par by (from Latin per) + amunt above, from a to (from Latin ad) + munt mountain — more at for, at, mount

First Known Use

Adjective

1530, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1616, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of paramount was in 1530

Dictionary Entries Near paramount

paramorphism

paramount

Paramount

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Paramount.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/paramount. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

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Kids Definition

paramount

adjective
par·​a·​mount
ˈpar-ə-ˌmau̇nt
: superior to all others : supreme
of paramount importance

Geographical Definition

Paramount

geographical name

Par·​a·​mount ˈper-ə-ˌmau̇nt How to pronounce Paramount (audio)
ˈpa-rə-
city in southwestern California north of Long Beach population 54,098

More from Merriam-Webster on paramount

Nglish: Translation of paramount for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of paramount for Arabic Speakers

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