The two you will use most
utmost = the greatest possible: "with the utmost care", "of the utmost importance". foremost = the leading one, first in importance: "first and foremost", "a foremost expert".
ESEN
Suffix · forms superlative adjectives
-most
Forms position superlatives: innermost, topmost, and with compass points: northernmost, southernmost. Utmost (the greatest possible) and foremost (the leading one) are the two you will use most.
In Spanish: the most / extremeIntermediate
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
It also works with position and compass points
innermost, outermost, topmost, uppermost (most important/priority). And with all four compass directions: northernmost, southernmost, easternmost, westernmost, this pattern is fairly predictable.
How it is formed
Position adverb or adjective + most. Already includes the superlative, never combine it with "the most".
- spatial position (predictable)in → innermostout → outermosttop → topmostnorth/south/east/west → northernmost/southernmost/easternmost/westernmost
- relative positionfore → foremostupper → uppermost
- degree (memorize separately)utmost (greatest possible)uttermost (extreme, rare, more formal)
How it is pronounced
-most/moʊst/ · rhymes with coast
Tap the button to hear how the ending sounds. Each word in the table has its own audio.
Examples
Base word
With -most
In a phrase
- utter (extreme)utmostPlease handle this with the utmost care.
- fore (before)foremostHe's one of the foremost experts in the field.
- utter (absolute)uttermostShe trusted him to the uttermost.
- innerinnermostShe finally shared her innermost thoughts with her sister.
- toptopmostThe topmost shelf is too high for me to reach.
- northnorthernmostThis is the northernmost town in the country.
- hind (behind)hindmostThe hindmost runner still finished the race.
- outoutermostThe outermost layer of the cake is chocolate.
- upperuppermostSafety is the uppermost concern for the team.
- nether (below)nethermostThe nethermost part of the cave was completely dark.
Common mistakes
utmost = ultimate
utmost = the greatest possible; ultimate = the final or defining one
"utmost care" = the greatest possible care. "the ultimate challenge" = the defining challenge. Both formal, different meanings.
foremost = famous
foremost = the leading one, first in importance
"a foremost expert" = the leading expert. "first and foremost" = above all, first of all.
the most innermost
innermost is already the superlative, do not add "the most"
Same with outermost, topmost, foremost: they already mean "the most ___", combining with "the most" is redundant.
A trick to remember it
"Utmost" comes from "utter" (extreme) + most = "the most extreme possible". "Foremost" comes from "fore" (in front, as in "before") + most = "the furthest to the front". Think of "most" as attaching the superlative directly to the root, no separate "the most" needed.
Practise what you learned
Exercise 1 · Form the word
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
"First and foremost" means...
Exercise 3 · Pick the right one
What is the difference between utmost and uttermost?
Frequently asked questions
What does the suffix -most mean in English?
The suffix -most forms position superlatives: innermost, topmost, and with compass points: northernmost, southernmost. Utmost (the greatest possible) and foremost (the leading one) are the two you will use most. In Spanish it usually maps to the most / extreme.
How do you pronounce -most?
The ending -most is pronounced /moʊst/ · rhymes with coast. For example, "utmost".
Can you give an example of a word with -most?
"utter (extreme)" becomes "utmost". It is a typical example of the -most suffix.
Other useful suffixes
-acious / -icious
From Latin "-ax/-acis": means "full of" or "having the quality of" to a high degree. Tenacious, audacious, malicious, delicious.
-itude
From Latin "-itudo": forms abstract nouns of state or quality. Solitude, gratitude, magnitude, fortitude.
-ward / -wards
Turns a direction word into a direction adverb/adjective: inward, outward, forward. Works with almost any direction word, it is productive.
Learn every English suffix
-tion, -ness, -ful, -ly, -able... every ending you need to understand thousands of words at once.