utmost
utmost Lexical Profile
utmost Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Greatest or highest in degree, quantity, or intensity; most extreme.
"Medical records must be handled with the utmost confidentiality at all times."
Situated at the farthest or most distant point; outermost.
"The expedition sailed to the utmost reaches of the northern archipelago."
• noun
The greatest or highest possible degree, amount, or effort that can be achieved.
"The rescue team did their utmost to reach the stranded hikers before nightfall."
Word Nuance & Usage
Do not confuse 'utmost' with 'upmost'; 'utmost' means greatest in degree or intensity, whereas 'upmost' is a rare variant of 'uppermost' referring to physical position.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old English 'ūtemest', a double superlative formed from 'ūt' (out), later reshaped in Middle English under the influence of the suffix '-most'.