above all

Meaning

Of prime importance; before anything else; especially.

Synonyms

especially

particularly

mainly

chiefly

principally

in particular

mostly

notably

specifically

first and last

most of all

for the most part

specially

first of all

most especially

most importantly

primarily

firstly

among other things

in the first place

namely

all the more

among

first and foremost

most

most important

best

par excellence

pre-eminently

scilicet

that is

that is to say

unusually

videlicet

viz.

to wit

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English:

In summary

From Middle English [Term?]. Compare Dutch bovenal (“above all”).