# number one

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/number-one
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

First; foremost; best, often used after its headword.

## Examples

- My family is my number one priority.
- She practiced every day because her goal was to become the number one tennis player in the country.
- While the company focuses on innovation, customer satisfaction remains their number one objective for long-term success.

## Origin

The term is a piecewise doublet of the Spanish or Italian *numero uno*.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.