a foremost role

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'a foremost role' is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when one thing plays a key or leading role in a particular activity or process. For example, you could say "Education plays a foremost role in developing a well-rounded individual."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Multiplication is an influential arithmetic operation in processor and digital signal-processing application, and thus it plays a foremost role in digital computation.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

But while the Army was gaining the foremost role internally, China suffered heavy setbacks in foreign policy.

The New Yorker

It says the Revolutionary Guard, notably through its Qods Force, or international brigade, plays the foremost role among Iranian actors in carrying out acts of terrorism.

The Washington Post

"I just plain can't afford to be as doomed as the people I wrote about," Yates observed at the time while contemplating the fate of his foremost role model, F. Scott Fitzgerald.

The New York Times - Books

In articular cartilage, MRI essentially measures extracellular matrices (the cells are invisible in MRI), where the depth-dependent characteristics of the collagen matrix play the foremost role.

Bone and Joint Research

In yeast, it has been demonstrated that the foremost role of K164-SUMOylated PCNA (S-PCNA) is to recruit Srs2 to the replication fork (Papouli et al, 2005; Pfander et al, 2005).

EMBO Journal

Thus, the expression pattern of the OsPP2C subfamily A genes is in good agreement with the microarray data for Arabidopsis subfamily A members, suggesting that the members of this subfamily play foremost roles in ABA-mediated processes related to stress responses both in monocots and eudicots.

BMC Genomics

I begin to see why she has been given some of the repertory's foremost roles and am keen to watch what she can do with them.

The New York Times - Arts

A renowned scholar in international intellectual property (IP) law and a foremost authority on the role of intellectual property in social and economic development, Professor Okediji has advised inter-governmental organizations, regional economic communities, and national governments on a range of matters related to technology, innovation policy, and development.

Harvard University

And on stage: Lanzmann's sister Évelyne, a foremost actress of the day, playing the lead role in Sartre's play Huis Clos.

The Guardian - Film

Policing is first and foremost a civilian role.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a foremost role" when you want to emphasize that something has a leading or preeminent function, particularly in formal or academic writing.

Common error

Avoid using "a foremost role" in informal contexts; opt for simpler alternatives like "a key role" or "a main role" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a foremost role" functions as a noun phrase that identifies and characterizes the importance or prominence of something within a specific context. Ludwig AI validates this usage.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

34%

News & Media

33%

Academia

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a foremost role" is a grammatically correct phrase used to highlight the leading or primary importance of something. While not extremely common, it is appropriate for formal and academic contexts. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is valid. When writing, remember that simpler alternatives like "a key role" may be more suitable for informal situations. Examples show usage across diverse sources. Be mindful to select the most fitting alternative based on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a leading role

Emphasizes being at the front or in charge, slightly more direct.

a primary role

Highlights the order of importance, suggesting it's the first or most important.

a key role

Stresses the importance of being essential or crucial.

a central role

Focuses on being the core or most important part.

a pivotal role

Indicates a turning point or critical importance.

a significant role

Highlights the notable or consequential impact.

a crucial role

Emphasizes the critical necessity of the role.

a vital role

Stresses the life-sustaining or essential nature of the role.

a prominent role

Indicates a high degree of visibility or importance.

a major role

Highlights the large scale or scope of the role.

FAQs

How to use "a foremost role" in a sentence?

Use "a foremost role" to emphasize that something has the leading or most important position. For example, "Education plays "a foremost role" in societal development".

What can I say instead of "a foremost role"?

You can use alternatives like "a leading role", "a primary role", or "a key role" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "a foremost role" or "the foremost role"?

"A foremost role" indicates one among many that is preeminent. "The foremost role" suggests it is the single most important role. The choice depends on the intended meaning.

What's the difference between "a foremost role" and "a significant role"?

"A foremost role" implies being in the leading position, while "a significant role" simply means being important or having a notable impact.