above all

[ uh-buhv awl ]

idiom

1. most important of all; before everything else; chiefly:

   Above all, the little girl wanted a piano.

   He said that, above all else, he was a dad of two young children.

Word History and Origins

Origin of above all¹

First recorded in 1350–1400

Idioms and Phrases

More than anything else, as in A winter hike calls for good equipment, but above all it requires careful planning . This phrase first appears in William Langland's Piers Ploughman (1377), in which the narrator exhorts readers to love the Lord God above all. Also see first and last .

Example Sentences

And, perhaps above all, run more candidates who’ve gotten dirt under their fingernails, mud on the soles of their boots or grease stains on their coveralls.

From Los Angeles Times

The fact is that the only way to protect the country from the Republicans is to beat them in elections and we’ve got to remain focused on that above all else.

From Salon

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said England's care system was "bankrupting councils, letting families down, and above all, leaving too many children feeling forgotten, powerless and invisible".

From BBC

A winner and an experienced tactician, Ranieri came out of retirement to take charge of the club he loves above all others - and suggested his arrival was akin to calling in the cavalry.

From BBC

Here, Kane makes the assumption that every player - perhaps more pertinently every club - shares this unswerving commitment to England as the top priority above all else.

From BBC