number one

noun

1. oneself, especially one's own well-being or interests:

   to look out for number one.

2. a person, company, etc., that is first in rank, order, or prestige:

   Our team is number one.

3. urination: used especially by or with reference to children.

adjective

1. of the highest in quality, status, importance, etc.; first-rate:

   a number one performance.

2. first in rank, order, or prestige:

   the number one book on the bestseller list.

number one

noun

1. the first in a series or sequence
2. an informal phrase for oneself myself

   to look after number one

3. informal.
   the most important person; leader, chief

   he's number one in the organization

4. informal.
   the bestselling pop record in any one week
5. euphemistic.
   the act or an instance of urination
6. a haircut in which the hair is cut very close to the head with an electric shaver

adjective

1. first in importance, urgency, quality, etc

   number one priority

2. informal.
   (of a pop record) having reached the top of the charts

Word History and Origins

Origin of number one¹

First recorded in 1830–40

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. make / do / go number one, Informal. to urinate: used especially by or with reference to children.

Example Sentences

Last year's winners, The Last Dinner Party, went on to score a number one album and a Mercury Prize nomination for their debut release, Prelude To Ecstasy.

From BBC

The county is the number one producer of the fruit in the state.

From Los Angeles Times

The Koreas have also suspended a pact aimed at lowering military tensions between them, shortly after North Korea said that the South was now “enemy number one”.

From BBC

The former world number one has played only seven tournaments this year after battling various injuries over the past couple of seasons.

From BBC

A decade into their careers, and with four number one albums, Blossoms are serious enough to have the confidence to be ludicrous.

From BBC

Related Words

• champion
• winner