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 first first /ˈfɝːst/

adjective

  1. () Preceding all others in time, space or degree  ( first )
    preceding all others in time, space or degree
     The first house on the right
    the first house on the right
     The first day of spring
    the first day of spring
     His first political race
    his first political race
     Her first baby
    her first baby
     The first time
    the first time
     The first meetings of the new party
    the first meetings of the new party
     The first phase of his training
    the first phase of his training
  2. () Indicating the beginning unit in a series  ( 1st , first )
    indicating the beginning unit in a series
      The first place winner received a trophy.
    The first place winner received a trophy.
  3. () Serving to begin  ( beginning , first )
    serving to begin
     The beginning canto of the poem
    the beginning canto of the poem
     The first verse
    the first verse
  4. () Serving to set in motion  ( initiative , initiatory , maiden , first , inaugural )
    serving to set in motion
     The magazine's inaugural issue
    the magazine's inaugural issue
     The initiative phase in the negotiations
    the initiative phase in the negotiations
     An initiatory step toward a treaty
    an initiatory step toward a treaty
     His first (or maiden) speech in Congress
    his first (or maiden) speech in Congress
     The liner's maiden voyage
    the liner's maiden voyage
  5. () Ranking above all others  ( world-class , world-beating , foremost , first )
    ranking above all others
     Was first in her class
    was first in her class
     The foremost figure among marine artists
    the foremost figure among marine artists
     The top graduate
    the top graduate
  6. Highest in pitch or chief among parts or voices or instruments or orchestra sections  ( first )
    highest in pitch or chief among parts or voices or instruments or orchestra sections
     First soprano
    first soprano
     The first violin section
    the first violin section
     Played first horn
    played first horn

adverb

  1. () Before anything else  ( firstly , foremost , first off , first , first of all )
    before anything else
     First we must consider the garter snake
    first we must consider the garter snake
  2. () The initial time  ( first )
    the initial time
     When Felix first saw a garter snake
    when Felix first saw a garter snake
  3. () Before another in time, space, or importance  ( first )
    before another in time, space, or importance
     I was here first
    I was here first
     Let's do this job first
    let's do this job first
  4. () Prominently forward  ( foremost , first )
    prominently forward
     He put his best foot foremost
    he put his best foot foremost

noun

  1. () The first or highest in an ordering or series  ( number one [Informal] , first )
    the first or highest in an ordering or series
     He wanted to be the first
    He wanted to be the first
  2. () The first element in a countable series  ( number 1 , number one [Informal] , first )
    the first element in a countable series
     The first of the month
    the first of the month
  3. () 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 , first )
    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)
  4. () The time at which something is supposed to begin  ( commencement , get-go , offset , first , kickoff , outset , showtime , start , starting time , beginning )
    the time at which something is supposed to begin
     They got an early start
    they got an early start
     She knew from the get-go that he was the man for her
    she knew from the get-go that he was the man for her
  5. The lowest forward gear ratio in the gear box of a motor vehicle; used to start a car moving  ( first , first gear , low , low gear )
    the lowest forward gear ratio in the gear box of a motor vehicle; used to start a car moving
  6. [British] An honours degree of the highest class  ( first [British] , first-class honours degree [Canadian, British] , first-class honors degree [American] )
    an honours degree of the highest class