Greatest in importance or degree or significance or achievement:
— A preeminent archeologist.

synonym: leading.

Roget 33: superior, greater, major, higher; exceeding etc. v.; great etc. 31; distinguished, ultra [Lat.]; vaulting; more than a match for.    supreme, greatest, utmost, paramount, preeminent, foremost, crowning; first-rate etc. (important) 642, (excellent) 648; unrivaled peerless, matchless; none such, second to none, sans pareil [Fr.]; unparagoned^†, unparalleled, unequalled, unapproached^†, unsurpassed; superlative, inimitable facile princeps [Lat.], incomparable, sovereign, without parallel, nulli secundus [Lat.], ne plus ultra [Lat.]; beyond compare, beyond comparison; culminating etc. (topmost) 210; transcendent, transcendental; plus royaliste que le Roi [Fr.], more catholic than the Pope increased etc. (added to) 35; enlarged etc. (expanded) 194.    ... show more

Roget 873: distinguished, distingue [Fr.], noted; of note etc. n.; honored etc. v.; popular; fashionable etc. 852.    in good odor in; favor, in high favor; reputable, respectable, creditable.    remarkable etc. (important) 642; notable, notorious; celebrated, renowned, ion every one's mouth, talked of; famous, famed; far-famed; conspicuous, to the front; foremost; in the front rank, in the ascendant.    imperishable, deathless, immortal, never fading, aere perennius [Lat.]; time honored.    illustrious, glorious, splendid, brilliant, radiant; bright etc. 420; full-blown; honorific.    eminent, prominent; high etc. 206; in the zenith; at the head of, at the top of the tree; peerless, of the first water.   ; superior etc. 33; supereminent, preeminent.    great, dignified, proud, noble, honorable, worshipful, lordly, grand, stately, august, princely.    imposing, solemn, transcendent, majestic, sacred, sublime, heaven-born, heroic, sans peur et sans reproche [Fr.]; sacrosanct.    ... show more