Meaning & use
most importantly
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Meaning
phrasefixed phrase
Used to introduce the point that matters more than the others you have mentioned.
Grammar: Usually opens a sentence or clause and is followed by a comma: Most importantly, check the date.
Patterns
- Most importantly, clause
Pack a coat, comfortable boots and, most importantly, a charged phone.
Most importantly, you must tell the truth.
The new bridge saves time and, most importantly, it saves lives.
Common combinations
- and most importantly
- She is clever, kind and most importantly honest.
- most importantly, remember
- Most importantly, remember to sign the form.
- but most importantly
- The trip was fun, but most importantly it taught us patience.
- most importantly of all
- Most importantly of all, the team stayed friends.
Synonyms and how they differ
- above all
- Above all is more conversational and places strong emphasis on one priority over the rest.
- most of all
- Most of all can suggest greatest degree of feeling, such as wanting something, not just importance.
- primarily
- Primarily means mainly and describes the chief purpose, not the last or strongest point in a list.
- chiefly
- Chiefly is a formal word meaning mostly and is less likely to introduce a final point.
Word family
- important adjective
- mattering a lot
- importance noun
- the quality of mattering
- importantly adverb
- in a way that matters
- unimportant adjective
- not mattering
Commonly confused: most importantly or most important?
most importantly vs most important
Most important (without -ly) is also accepted as a sentence opener, and some writers prefer it; both are common.
Practice
Which phrase best ends a list by giving the strongest point?
Choose one answer.
Most importantly signals the point that matters most. Meanwhile and for instance serve other purposes, and least of all would reduce the point's weight.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “most importantly”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.