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first

/fɚst/noun, adjective, adverb1 syllable

First means: preceding all others in time or space or degree.

Synonyms for first48

noun, as in the time at which something is supposed to begin

beginning, commencement, outset, get-go, start, kickoff, starting time, showtime, offset

noun, as in the lowest forward gear ratio in the gear box of a motor vehicle; used to start a car moving

first gear, low gear, low

noun, as in the first element in a countable series

number one, number 1

noun, as in the first or highest in an ordering or series

number one

noun, as in the fielding position of the player on a baseball team who is stationed at first of the bases in the infield (counting counterclockwise from home plate)

first base

noun, as in an honours degree of the highest class

first-class honours degree

adjective, as in preceding all others in time or space or degree

1st, archetypal, archetypical, prototypal, prototypic, prototypical, basic, introductory, initial, firstborn, eldest, freshman, first-year, original
and 7 more, premier, premiere, prime, ordinal, early, front, primary

adjective, as in serving to set in motion

inaugural, initiative, initiatory, maiden, opening

adjective, as in ranking above all others

foremost, world-class, best

adjective, as in serving to begin

beginning, opening

adverb, as in before anything else

firstly, foremost, first of all, first off

adverb, as in prominently forward

foremost

Opposites of first

last, second

What does first mean?15

adjective

1

preceding all others in time or space or degree“the first house on the right”

2

serving to set in motion“the magazine's inaugural issue”

3

ranking above all others“was first in her class”

4

serving to begin“the beginning canto of the poem”

5

highest in pitch or chief among parts or voices or instruments or orchestra sections“first soprano”

noun

1

the time at which something is supposed to begin“they got an early start”

2

the lowest forward gear ratio in the gear box of a motor vehicle; used to start a car moving

3

the first element in a countable series“the first of the month”

4

the first or highest in an ordering or series“He wanted to be the first”

5

the fielding position of the player on a baseball team who is stationed at first of the bases in the infield (counting counterclockwise from home plate)

6

an honours degree of the highest class

adverb

1

before anything else“first we must consider the garter snake”

2

prominently forward“he put his best foot foremost”

3

the initial time“when Felix first saw a garter snake”

4

before another in time, space, or importance“I was here first”

Definitions from the Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

What rhymes with first?13

one syllable

worstburstcursedthirstversedhurst

two syllables

reverseddispersedimmersedcoercedrehearsed

three syllables

interspersedreimbursed
Show 40 near rhymes
wereherworkworldperresearchgirlthirdturnworksheardwordwordstermreturngirlslearnchurchworkedworthtermsturnedearthsirsearchhurtworselearnedservereturnedservedfirmbirthturnsconcernedtransferconfirmedconcernbirdshirt

First in a sentence

  • As was to be expected, he took the first place.Swift
  • Suppose you are fired, what will you do first?Eldad
  • First of all, he went to the station.AlanF_US
  • First of all, we must dismiss the cook.AlanF_US
  • In the first place, he's a lazy boy.orcrist
  • In the first place, we must have capital to begin it with.AlexParrish
  • In the first place, you all have to pay a debt first.Dejo
  • First of all, he is very worried about his daughter's health.CK

Sentences from Tatoeba, CC BY 2.0 FR, credited to their authors.

Forms of first

as a noun

plural
firsts

as a adjective

superlative
firstmost