Utmost

Pronunciation

• UK
• IPA: /ˈʌtməʊst/
• US
• enPR: Å­t'mōst
• IPA: /ˈʌtmoÊŠst/

Origin

Old English ut ("out") + -most

Full definition of utmost

Adjective

1. Situated at the most distant limit; farthest
• EvelynWe coasted within two leagues of Antibes, which is the utmost town in France.
• HerbertBetwixt two thieves I spend my utmost breath.
2. the utmost limits of the land;  the utmost extent of human knowledge
3. The most extreme; ultimate; greatest
• William ShakespeareHe shall answer...to his utmost peril.
• 1963, Margery Allingham, The China Governess Chapter 19, Meanwhile Nanny Broome was recovering from her initial panic and seemed anxious to make up for any kudos she might have lost, by exerting her personality to the utmost. She took the policeman's helmet and placed it on a chair, and unfolded his tunic to shake it and fold it up again for him.
• 2005, Plato, Sophist. Translation by Lesley Brown. Stephanus pagination.Indeed at this very moment he's slipped away with the utmost cunning into a form that's most perplexing to investigate.
4. the utmost assiduity;  the utmost harmony;  the utmost misery or happiness

Related terms

• outermost
• outmost
• uttermost

Noun

1. Maximum; greatest possible amount or quantity.
• 1963, Margery Allingham, The China Governess Chapter 19, Meanwhile Nanny Broome was recovering from her initial panic and seemed anxious to make up for any kudos she might have lost, by exerting her personality to the utmost. She took the policeman's helmet and placed it on a chair, and unfolded his tunic to shake it and fold it up again for him.