“Upmost” or “utmost”: which is correct?
The short answer
Utmost is the correct word to use when referring to something as being of the greatest degree or most extreme. Upmost is a less common variant and usually meant to refer to the highest position in a physical sense, but it is rarely used, leading to confusion.
Spelling and usage error
Why people get it wrong
Upmost sounds similar to utmost, and people may mistakenly think they are interchangeable; upmost refers to the highest position, while utmost means greatest or most extreme in extent.
Examples with utmost
- She has the utmost respect for her teacher.
- It is of utmost importance that we finish this project by tomorrow.
- He tried his utmost to resolve the issue quickly.
Quick check
She has the respect for her teacher.
Utmost is the correct word to use when referring to something as being of the greatest degree or most extreme. Upmost is a less common variant and usually meant to refer to the highest position in a physical sense, but it is rarely used, leading to confusion.
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