the foremost of

USAGE SUMMARY

"the foremost of" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to indicate someone or something that is the most important or prominent among a group. Example: "She is the foremost of all the candidates in terms of experience." Alternative expressions include "the leading of," "the top of," and "the best of."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"And the foremost of these duties is to love France".

The New York Times

But the verdict of history was not the foremost of Mr Blair's concerns this week.

The Economist

Cézanne is the foremost of painters who unfold their majesty to close-up inspection.

The New Yorker

The foremost of the ultraconservative pressure groups was the International Committee of Fathers.

The New Yorker

"But among the foremost of those criteria is what the marketplace will bear".

The New York Times

That way the foremost of the doubled c pawns can be used aggressively.

The New York Times

The foremost of Kovner's backers was Mrs. Skoglund, who had inherited a large dairy business from her late husband.

The New Yorker

Konoe was born to the foremost of the five families from among which regents (sesshō) and chancellors (kampaku) were chosen.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Its artistic committee lists the artistic directors of 15 ballet companies (including the foremost of Britain, France and Denmark).

The New York Times - Arts

In the late 19th century António Nobre and Teixeira de Pascoais were the foremost of a growing cult of saudosismo.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Just a stone's throw from Windsor Castle, Tom Brown is perhaps the foremost of a tiny number of outfitters to the young masters of Eton College.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Place this phrase at the beginning of a list to immediately establish a hierarchy of importance for your readers.

Common error

Do not use "the foremost of" simply to mean 'the first' in a sequence if that item is not also the most important. While 'foremost' can relate to position, its primary contemporary sense implies qualitative superiority. If you only mean chronological sequence, use "the first of" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the foremost of" acts as a superlative partitive construction. It identifies a single element or a small group as holding the highest rank within a larger set. According to Ludwig AI, it functions grammatically as an adjective phrase followed by a preposition that introduces the group being filtered.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Encyclopedias

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Social Media

2%

Wiki

2%

Informal

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "the foremost of" is a powerful linguistic tool for establishing hierarchy and importance. Analysis of the data provided by Ludwig reveals that it is a hallmark of prestige journalism and academic writing, appearing in highly authoritative sources such as The New York Times and The Economist. Ludwig AI indicates a consistent pattern where this phrase is used to singling out the most significant attribute, duty, or individual from a group. Whether you are describing a lead researcher in a scientific study or a primary concern in a political analysis, "the foremost of" provides a more sophisticated and precise tone than simpler alternatives like "the best of" or "the main of". To use it effectively, ensure the following noun phrase clearly defines the set from which the 'foremost' member is being selected.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the preeminent of

Suggests a higher degree of superiority or unrivaled status

the leading of

Stresses the active role or dominance within a group

the most prominent of

Emphasizes visibility or social standing rather than just rank

the principal of

Often used in more formal or legalistic contexts to identify the primary element

the most notable of

Highlights that the object is worthy of attention among others

the primary of

Focuses on the chronological or functional priority

the paramount of

Expresses that the subject is of ultimate importance

the chief of

Implies a leadership position or the most significant in importance

the first and greatest of

Provides a more poetic and emphatic sense of excellence

the top of

More informal and direct way to describe a peak position

FAQs

How do I use "the foremost of" in a sentence?

You can use it to introduce the most important member of a group. For example, in The New York Times, it appears as: "And "the foremost of" these duties is to love France."

What is the difference between "the foremost of" and "the first of"?

While "the first of" usually refers to chronological order, "the foremost of" refers to the most important or prominent member of a group, regardless of time.

Is "the foremost of" considered formal?

Yes, it is a neutral to formal expression. It is frequently found in high-quality publications like The Economist and The New Yorker to add weight and authority to a statement.

What can I say instead of "the foremost of"?

You can use synonyms like "the leading of", "the most prominent of", or "the chief of" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.