Meaning & use
highest order
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Meaning
phrasefixed phraseformal
Of the greatest importance, seriousness, or quality; used to emphasize how significant or excellent something is.
Grammar: Usually used in the pattern 'of the highest order' after a noun: a problem of the highest order.
Patterns
- of the highest order
- a ... of the highest order
The team showed skill of the highest order in the final match.
This is a matter of the highest order and requires immediate attention.
She received an award for service of the highest order.
Common combinations
- of the highest order
- His performance was of the highest order.
- a problem of the highest order
- Climate change is a problem of the highest order.
- quality of the highest order
- The restaurant is known for food of the highest order.
Synonyms and how they differ
- top-level
- Top-level is less formal and often used before a noun, e.g. a top-level meeting.
- supreme
- Supreme is stronger and more absolute; 'of the highest order' emphasizes rank within a scale.
Opposites
Commonly confused: highest order or high order?
highest order vs high order
High order is less emphatic and can mean 'important' but not necessarily the most important; 'highest order' is stronger.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'highest order' correctly?
Choose one answer.
The fixed phrase is 'of the highest order', used after a noun. The other options use incorrect prepositions or word order.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “highest order”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.