first

[ furst ]

adjective

1. being before all others with respect to time, order, rank, importance, etc., used as the ordinal number of one: the first edition; the first vice president.
2. Music. highest or chief among several voices or instruments of the same class:

   first alto; first horn.

3. Automotive. low ¹( def 31 ).
4. (often initial capital letter) being a member of the household or an intimate acquaintance of the president of the United States or of the governor of a state:

   the First Lady; Checkers, the first dog.

adverb

1. before all others or anything else in time, order, rank, etc.
2. before some other thing, event, etc.:

   If you're going, phone first.

3. for the first time:

   She first visited Atlanta in 1980.

4. in preference to something else; rather; sooner:

   I'd die first.

5. in the first place; firstly.

noun

1. the person or thing that is first in time, order, rank, etc.
2. the beginning.
3. the first part; first member of a series.
4. Music.
   1. the voice or instrument that takes the highest or chief part in its class, especially in an orchestra or chorus.
   2. a leader of a part or group of performers.
5. Automotive. low gear; first gear:

   She shifted into first and drove off.

6. the winning position or rank in a race or other competition.
7. Baseball. first base ( def 1 ).
8. Usually firsts. Commerce. Compare second ¹( def 23 ), third ( def 12 ).
   1. a product or goods of the first or highest quality.
   2. goods produced according to specifications, without visible flaws.
9. British University.
   1. first-class honors. class ( def 18 ).
   2. a person who has won such honors.

first

/ fɜːst /

adjective

1. 1. coming before all others; earliest, best, or foremost
   2. ( as noun )

      I was the first to arrive

2. preceding all others in numbering or counting order; the ordinal number of one . Often written: 1st
3. rated, graded, or ranked above all other levels
4. denoting the lowest forward ratio of a gearbox in a motor vehicle
5. music
   1. denoting the highest part assigned to one of the voice parts in a chorus or one of the sections of an orchestra

      the first violins

      first soprano

   2. denoting the principal player in a specific orchestral section

      he plays first horn

6. first thing
   as the first action of the day

   I'll see you first thing tomorrow

7. first things first
   things must be done in order of priority
8. the first thing
   in negative constructions even one thing

   he doesn't know the first thing about me

noun

1. the beginning; outset

   I knew you were a rogue from the first

   I couldn't see at first because of the mist

2. education an honours degree of the highest class Full termfirst-class honours degree
3. something which has not occurred before

   a first for the company

4. the lowest forward ratio of a gearbox in a motor vehicle; low gear
5. music
   1. the highest part in a particular section of a chorus or orchestra
   2. the instrument or voice taking such a part
   3. the chief or leading player in a section of an orchestra; principal
6. music a rare word for prime

adverb

1. before anything else in order, time, preference, importance, etc

   first, remove the head and tail of the fish

   do this first

2. first and last
   on the whole; overall
3. from first to last
   throughout
4. for the first time

   I've loved you since I first saw you

5. sentence modifier in the first place or beginning of a series of actions

   first I want to talk about criminality

Other Words From

• firstness adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of first¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English; Old English fyr(e)st; cognate with German Fürst “prince”; fore ¹, -est ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of first¹

Old English fyrest ; related to Old Saxon furist , Old Norse fyrstr , German Fürst prince, one who is first in rank

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. first and last, everything considered; above all else; altogether:

   First and last, it is important to know oneself.

2. first off, Informal. at the outset; in the beginning:

   He wanted to know first off why he hadn't been notified.

3. first thing, before anything else:

   I'll call you first thing when I arrive.

More idioms and phrases containing first

• at first
• at first blush
• at first hand
• cast the first stone
• get to first base
• if at first you don't succeed
• in the first place
• in the (first) flush of
• love at first sight
• not know beans (the first thing)
• of the first water
• on a first-name basis

Example Sentences

In 2010, Jianxin Ma, a professor of agronomy, and his collaborators built the first reference genome for soybeans on the widely studied Williams 82 variety.

From Science Daily

Teal, who also appeared on stage in “Newsies,” “Sweeney Todd” and “Rent,” first starred in the short film “First Memory” and spent much of his career in supporting roles.

From Los Angeles Times

Nate Smith would be the first to tell you that he makes for a peculiar nominee for new artist of the year at Wednesday night’s Country Music Assn.

From Los Angeles Times

After receiving rave reviews — and four Olivier Awards, including best musical — it transferred to Broadway for the 2024-25 season, becoming the first big show to reopen in the newly remodeled Palace Theatre.

From Los Angeles Times

There could be exemptions to tariffs, such as those granted to Apple during Trump's first term.

From Salon

Related Words

• initially
• originally

More About First

What is a basic definition of first?

First is used to describe something as being original or before anything else, as in time, order, or rank. First can also be used to describe something as happening before something else or as happening for the first time. First is also used as a noun to mean the person or thing that is before all others, as in rank. First has other senses as an adjective, adverb, and noun.

As an adjective, first describes something as being the original, with nothing else coming before it in time or in a series. In regards to importance or rank, first means no other rank is higher or has more authority. A ship captain’s first mate, for example, has the most authority out of all the crew. The opposite of first is last.

• Real-life examples: A is the first letter in the English alphabet. George Washington was the first president of the United States. Mercury is the first planet from the sun.
• Used in a sentence: I bought my first car when I was eighteen. 

First is used in this same sense as an adverb to describe something happening before all others in time or coming before all others in rank.

• Used in a sentence: She answered the question first out of all of the students. 

First is also used in this sense as a noun to refer to something that is before all others of its kind.

• Used in a sentence: I was the first to make it to the movie theater.

In a similar sense, first is used as an adverb to mean something happens for the first time.

• Used in a sentence: I first went to Tokyo when I was eight years old. 

First is also used as an adverb to mean something happens before something else.

• Used in a sentence: Before you borrow your sister’s bike, make sure to ask her first. 

Where does first come from?

The first records of first come from before the year 1000. It ultimately comes from the Old English word fyrest and is related to the German Fürst, meaning “prince.”

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to first?

• firstly (adverb)
• firstness (adjective)

What are some synonyms for first?

• earliest
• original
• initial
• primary
• dominant
• originally

What are some words that share a root or word element with first? 

• firstly
• first and foremost
• first of all
• first things first
• first come, first served
• first aid
• First Amendment

What are some words that often get used in discussing first?

• oldest
• series
• time
• rank
• order
• place
• winner

How is first used in real life?

First is a very common word that means something comes before anything else.

Kamala Harris will be the first female, and first person of color, to ever be Vice President of the United States.

— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) November 7, 2020

I wrote my first book at 34 and started my first business at 40. Fear tells you that you can only take risks in your 20s. That’s garbage.

— Jon Acuff (@JonAcuff) June 27, 2020

It's your first time meeting the parents on Dec 25th… What dish are you taking? TikTok foods only. I'm taking cloud bread 😇

— TikTok UK (@tiktok_uk) December 22, 2020

 

 

 

Try using first!

Is first used correctly in the following sentence?

I have never had red velvet cake before, so when I eat some tonight it will be my first time tasting it.