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

Among the many strange biological wonders Charles Darwin observed in his time, one haunted him above all.

From Salon

But those stores are designed and sculpted by a corporate structure that prioritizes shareholder value and brand identity above all else.

From Los Angeles Times

The department warns residents to avoid using the compound and, above all, to avoid mixing it with other drugs.

From Los Angeles Times

He became a champion in multiple divisions, a global icon and, above all, a man who continues to look ahead.

From Los Angeles Times

It was predicated on high intensity, unwavering regimentation and, above all else, strenuously heavy reps.

From Los Angeles Times