The first thing, person, event, or period of time is the one that happens or comes before all the others of the same kind.
She lost 16 pounds in the first month of her diet.
...the first few flakes of snow.
Two years ago Johnson came first in the one hundred metres.
First is also a pronoun.
The second paragraph startled me even more than the first.
We did exercises to improve my car control. The first was to drive on ice.
2. adverb [ADVERB with verb]
If you do something first, you do it before anyone else does, or before you do anything else.
I do not remember who spoke first, but we all expressed the same opinion.
First, tell me what you think of my products.
Routine questions first, if you don't mind.
Synonyms: to begin with, firstly, initially, at the beginning More Synonyms of first
3. ordinal number
When something happens or is done for the first time, it has never happened or been done before.
This is the first time she has experienced disappointment.
It was the first occasion when they had both found it possible to keep a rendezvous.
First is also an adverb.
Anne and Steve got engaged two years after they had first started going out.
I met him first at his house where we had a chat.
4. singular noun
An event that is described as a first has never happened before and is important or exciting.
It is a first for New York. An outdoor exhibition of Fernando Botero's sculptureon Park Avenue. [+ for]
Synonyms: novelty, innovation, originality, new experience More Synonyms of first
5. pronoun
The first you hear of something or thefirst you know about it is the time when you first become aware of it.
We heard it on the TV last night–that was the first we heard of it.
When Mark arrived home that afternoon, it was the first he knew for sure of the surpriseparty.
6. adverb [ADVERB before verb]
You use first when you are talking about what happens in the early part of an event or experience, in contrast to what happens later.
When he first came home he wouldn't say anything about what he'd been doing.
First is also an ordinal.
She told him that her first reaction was disgust.
My first feeling on getting into the cabin was one of dislike for everything I saw.
7. adverb [ADVERB after verb]
In order to emphasize your determination not to do a particular thing, you can say that rather than do it, you would do something else first.
[emphasis]
Marry that self-satisfied idiot? She would die first!
8. adverb
You use first when you are about to give the first in a series of items.
Certain guidelines can be given. First, have a heating engineer check the safetyof the system.
9. ordinal number
The first thing, person, or place in a line is the one that is nearest to you or nearest tothe front.
Before him, in the first row, sat the President.
First in the queue were two Japanese students.
10. ordinal number
You use first to refer to the best or most important thing or person of a particular kind.
The first duty of any government must be to protect the interests of the taxpayers.
Imagine winning the local lottery first prize of £5,000.
...first team football.
11. ordinal number
First is used in the title of the job or position of someone who has a higher rank than anyone else with the same basic job title.
...the First Lord of the Admiralty.
...the first mate of a British tanker.
12. countable noun
In British universities, a first is an honours degree of the highest standard.
...an Oxford Blue who took a First in Constitutional History. [+ in]
13.
See first of all
14.
See at first
15.
See come first
16.
See first come first served
17.
See from the first
18.
See at first hand
19.
See not to know the first thing about something
20.
See first off
21.
See put sb/sth first
22.
See first things first
23. first and foremost
More Synonyms of first
-first
(-fɜːʳst)
combining form [ADVERB after verb]
-first combines with nouns like 'head' and 'feet' to indicate that someone moves with the part thatis mentioned pointing in the direction in which they are moving.
He overbalanced and fell head first.
first in British English
(fɜːst)
adjective(usually prenominal)
1.
a.
coming before all others; earliest, best, or foremost
b.
(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
a.
denoting the highest part assigned to one of the voice parts in a chorus or one of the sections of an orchestra
first soprano
the first violins
b.
denoting the principal player in a specific orchestral section
he plays first horn
6. first thing
7. first things first
8. the first thing
noun
9.
the beginning; outset
I knew you were a rogue from the first
I couldn't see at first because of the mist
10. education, mainly British
an honours degree of the highest class
Full term: first-class honours degree
11.
something which has not occurred before
a first for the company
12.
the lowest forward ratio of a gearbox in a motor vehicle; low gear
13. music
a.
the highest part in a particular section of a chorus or orchestra
b.
the instrument or voice taking such a part
c.
the chief or leading player in a section of an orchestra; principal
14. music a rare word for prime (sense 11)
adverb
15.
before anything else in order, time, preference, importance, etc
do this first
first, remove the head and tail of the fish
16. first and last
17. from first to last
18.
for the first time
I've loved you since I first saw you
19. (sentence modifier)
in the first place or beginning of a series of actions
first I want to talk about criminality
Word origin
Old English fyrest; related to Old Saxon furist, Old Norse fyrstr, German Fürst prince, one who is first in rank
first in American English
(fɜrst)
adjective
1.
preceding all others in a series; before any other; 1st
see also one
2.
happening or acting before all others; earliest
3.
ranking before all others; foremost in rank, quality, importance, etc.; principal
4.
designating the slowest forward gear ratio of a motor vehicle transmission; low1 (sense 21)
5. Music
playing or singing the part highest in pitch or the leading part
adverb
6.
a.
before any other person or thing; at the beginning
b.
before doing anything else
7.
as the first point; to begin with
8.
for the first time
9.
sooner; preferably
noun
10.
the one before the second
11.
any person, thing, class, place, etc. that is first
12.
the first day of a month
13.
the beginning; start
14.
a first happening or thing of its kind
15. [pl.]
the best quality of merchandise
16.
the winning place in a race or competition
17.
the first (sense 4) gear of a motor vehicle transmission; , low1 noun low1 (sense 31a)
18. US, Baseball
first base
19. Music
the highest or leading voice or instrument in an ensemble
Idioms:
first thing
in the first place
Word origin
ME < OE fyrst, lit., foremost, superl. of fore, before (see fore), akin to OHG furist, Ger fürst, prince, lit., foremost < IE base *per-, beyond > L prae, before, Gr para, beside, beyond
More idioms containing
first
at first glance
it is first blood to someone
get to first base
first past the post
at first sight
first off the mark
Examples of 'first' in a sentence
first
The first series began with a certain amount of promise.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Now she may well be forced to abandon it as one of her first acts in office.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The first thing to do is to think hard about whether it is really necessary.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The data experts also predict for the first time the number of patients who can expect to survive a decade.
The Sun (2016)
Students who move away from home for the first time and are unaware they need a licence could also benefit.
The Sun (2017)
While some looked forward to that first wild week, just as many dreaded it.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
I had two or three players in the first half and sometimes players disappoint managers.
The Sun (2016)
New police officers will need to have university degrees for the first time under one of the most radical overhauls of the service in generations.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
This is infinitely more wearying than it was in the first series.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Grade inflation sees the number of firsts rise significantly without clear evidence of improvement in scholarship.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The first one came from watching my husband practice his sermon in front of the bedroom mirror.
Christianity Today (2000)
Not very edifying but he would not be the first player to have gone to such extremes.
The Sun (2013)
She was tipped to become one of the first female bishops had the change gone through.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The first thing you need to do is measure your bladder capacity.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
She seemed to think it was natural for her to go forward first.
Jan Fennell, Foreword by Monty Roberts THE DOG LISTENER: Learning the Language of your Best Friend (2002)
Thoughts of retirement first entered his head almost a year earlier.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
You want to be on the pitch first and foremost.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
It was five weeks before the first evidence was heard.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
These people know film is first and foremost a visual medium.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
This is a woman who has put her career first and does not mind admitting it.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The first job will be to check the fridge.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The first person you need to have a relationship with is yourself.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
This first part of ten is pumped with intrigue and highly promising.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
It was a terribly stressful time and put paid to my first marriage.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
As first home from work, he cooks dinner.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
While it was a buzz at first, the job took its toll.
The Sun (2013)
Tickets are subject to availability and on a first come, first served basis.
The Sun (2010)
His first wife was barely 50 when she died of cancer.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Quotations
Many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be firstBible: St. Mark
First come, first served
First things first
In other languages
first
British English: first /fɜːst/ ADJECTIVE
If a person or thing is first, they come before all the others.
January is the first month of the year.
American English: first
Arabic: أَوَّل
Brazilian Portuguese: primeiro
Chinese: 第一的
Croatian: prvi
Czech: první
Danish: først
Dutch: eerste
European Spanish: primero
Finnish: ensimmäinen
French: premier
German: erster
Greek: πρώτος
Italian: primo
Japanese: 最初の
Korean: 첫 번째의
Norwegian: første
Polish: pierwszy
European Portuguese: primeiro
Romanian: primul
Russian: начальный
Latin American Spanish: primero
Swedish: förste
Thai: ที่หนึ่ง
Turkish: ilk
Ukrainian: перший
Vietnamese: đầu tiên thứ nhất
British English: first /fɜːst/ ADVERB
If you do something first, you do it before anyone else does, or before you do anything else.
I do not remember who spoke first.
American English: first
Arabic: أَوَّلاً
Brazilian Portuguese: primeiramente
Chinese: 首先
Croatian: prvo
Czech: nejdříve
Danish: først
Dutch: eerste
European Spanish: antes
Finnish: ensin
French: premièrement
German: zuerst
Greek: πρώτα
Italian: per primo
Japanese: 最初に
Korean: 처음으로
Norwegian: først
Polish: po raz pierwszy
European Portuguese: primeiramente
Romanian: inițial
Russian: сначала
Latin American Spanish: en primer lugar
Swedish: först
Thai: อย่างแรก
Turkish: ilkin
Ukrainian: спочатку
Vietnamese: trước hết
British English: first /fɜːst/ NOUN
An event that is described as a first has never happened before.
The meeting was a first for the company.
American English: first
Arabic: لِلمَرَّةِ الأُولَى
Brazilian Portuguese: primeiro
Chinese: 第一
Croatian: prvi
Czech: poprvé
Danish: topkarakter
Dutch: eerste
European Spanish: primicia
Finnish: ensimmäinen
French: premier
German: Erster
Greek: πρωτιά
Italian: prima
Japanese: 最初のもの
Korean: 맨 첫
Norwegian: begynnelse
Polish: pierwsze miejsce
European Portuguese: primeiro
Romanian: debut
Russian: первый
Latin American Spanish: primicia
Swedish: högsta betyg
Thai: ครั้งแรก
Turkish: ilk
Ukrainian: перший
Vietnamese: đầu tiên thứ nhất
All related terms of 'first'
at first
You use at first when you are talking about what happens in the early stages of an event or experience , or just after something else has happened, in contrast to what happens later .
first aid
First aid is simple medical treatment given as soon as possible to a person who is injured or who suddenly becomes ill .
First day
Sunday
first off
You use first off to introduce the first of a number of things that you want to say .
first-run
designating or of:
come first
If you say that someone or something comes first for a particular person, you mean they treat or consider that person or thing as more important than anything else.
first aider
someone in an organization who has been trained to give immediate medical help in an emergency
first base
the base that a runner must reach safely to score a hit , and the first of the three bases the runner must reach safely on the way to home plate in order to score a run
first blood
the first killing or wounding in a fight or war
first born
Someone's first born is their first child.
first cause
a source or cause of something
first class
If you describe something or someone as first-class , you mean that they are extremely good and of the highest quality.
first down
the first play of the set of four downs allowed to the offensive team
first ever
Something that is the first ever one of its kind has never happened before.
First Fleet
the fleet of convict ships that arrived at Port Jackson in 1788
first floor
The first floor of a building is the floor immediately above the one at ground level.
first-foot
the first person to enter a household in the New Year . By Hogmanay tradition a dark-haired man who crosses the threshold at midnight brings good luck
first form
the first class that children go into at school
first grade
the first school year after kindergarten when children are six or seven years old
first hand
First hand information or experience is gained or learned directly, rather than from other people or from books.
first lady
The First Lady in a country or state is the wife of the president or state governor, or a woman who performs the official duties normally performed by the wife.
first light
First light is the time in the early morning when light first appears and before the sun rises .
first-line
acting or used as a first resort
first mate
an officer second in command to the captain of a merchant ship
First Mover
the Aristotelian conception of God as the unmoved mover of everything else
first name
Your first name is the first of the names that were given to you when you were born. You can also refer to all of your names except your surname as your first names .
first-named
→ the first-named
first night
The first night of a show , play, or performance is the first public performance of it.
first-order
quantifying only over individuals and not over predicates or clauses : first-order predicate calculus studies the logical properties of such quantification
first post
the first of two military bugle calls ordering or giving notice of the time to retire for the night . The second is called last post
first-rate
If you say that something or someone is first-rate , you mean that they are extremely good and of the highest quality.
First Reich
the Holy Roman Empire ( First Reich )
First State
→ the First State
first thing
If you do something first thing , you do it at the beginning of the day, before you do anything else. If you do it last thing , you do it at the end of the day, before you go to bed or go to sleep .
first-timer
A first-timer is someone who does something for the first time.
first water
the finest quality of diamond or other precious stone
First World
The most prosperous and industrialized parts of the world are sometimes referred to as the First World . Compare → Third World .
first year
the first year when someone is at university or college
head-first
If you move head-first in a particular direction, your head is the part of your body that is furthest forward as you are moving.
sixty-first
being between sixty and sixty-two in numbering or counting order, position, time, etc: often written 61st
double first
a first-class honours degree in two subjects
first baseman
the infielder who plays near first base and usually covers first base, esp. on ground balls
first couple
→ the first couple
first cousin
Someone's first cousin is the same as their → cousin . Compare → second cousin .
first degree
People who have gained a higher qualification after completing a basic university degree such as a BA or a BSc refer to that basic degree as their first degree .
first edition
one of the first printed copies of a book or newspaper
First Empire
the period of imperial rule in France (1804–14) under Napoleon Bonaparte
first estate
the first of the three estates of the realm , such as the Lords Spiritual in England or the clergy in France until the revolution
first family
a family considered to have prestige because of descent , social status , etc.
first finger
the finger next to the thumb ; index finger
Chinese translation of 'first'
first
(fəːst)
adj
(in series) 第一的 (dìyī de)
⇒ For the first time in our lives ... 我们生命中的第一次 ... (wǒmen shēngmìng zhōng de dìyī cì ... )
(= initial)[reaction, impression]最初的 (zuìchū de)
⇒ My first reaction was one of horror.我最初的反应是害怕。 (Wǒ zuìchū de fǎnyìng shì hàipà.)
(= top)[prize, division]头(頭)等的 (tóuděng de)
⇒ She won first prize.她得了头等奖。 (Tā déle tóuděngjiǎng.)
(= front)[row]第一的 (dìyī de)
⇒ We had seats in the first row.我们的座位在第一排。 (Wǒmen de zuòwèi zài dìyī pái.)
(= main)[duty, responsibility]首要的 (shǒuyào de)
⇒ My first duty is to my patients.我首先要对病人负责。 (Wǒ shǒuxiān yào duì bìngrén fùzé.)
⇒ But first I had to get a visa.但是首先我得先拿到签证。 (Dànshì shǒuxiān wǒ děi xiān nádào qiānzhèng.)
(when listing reasons) 第一 (dìyī)
⇒ There were several reasons for this. First, four submarines had been sighted.这有几个原因。第一，发现了4艘潜水艇。 (Zhè yǒu jǐ gè yuányīn.Dìyī, fāxiànle sì sōu qiánshuǐtǐng.)
(= for the first time) 第一次 (dìyī cì)
⇒ Sophie and Dave first met in the summer of 1910.索菲和戴夫第一次相遇是在1910年夏天。 (Suǒfēi hé Dàifū dìyī cì xiāngyù shì zài yījiǔyīlíng nián xiàtiān.)
(in race, competition)[come, finish]第一名 (dìyī míng)
⇒ Johnson came first in the one hundred metres.约翰逊在一百米跑比赛中获得第一名。 (Yuēhànxùn zài yībǎi mǐ pǎo bǐsài zhōng huòdé dìyī míng.)
n
(u) (Aut) (also first gear)
一挡(檔) (yīdǎng)
⇒ I changed down into first.我换到了一挡。 (Wǒ huàndàole yīdǎng.)
(c) (Brit, Univ) 甲等 (jiǎděng)
⇒ He got a first in French.他的法语得了甲等。 (Tā de Fǎyǔ déle jiǎděng.)
(c) (= event) 首次 (shǒucì)
⇒ The meeting between financial analysts was a first for the company.金融分析家之间的会议在公司里是首次。 (Jīnróng fēnxījiā zhījiān de huìyì zài gōngsī li shì shǒucì.)
at first起先 (qǐxiān)
first of all首先 (shǒuxiān)
the first of January1月1号(號) (yī yuè yī hào)
in the first instance起初 (qǐchū)
I'll do it first thing tomorrow明天我首先做这(這)件事 (míngtiān wǒ shǒuxiān zuò zhè jiàn shì)
from the (very) first从(從)(最)一开(開)始 (cóng (zuì) yīkāishǐ)
to put sb/sth first把某人/某事放在第一位 (bǎ mǒurén/mǒushì fàng zài dìyī wèi)
at first hand直接地 (zhíjiē de)
the first I heard/knew of it最初我所听(聽)到的/所知道的 (zuìchū wǒ suǒ tīngdào de/suǒ zhīdào de)
All related terms of 'first'
at first
起先 qǐxiān
first aid
急救 jíjiù
first floor
( Brit ) 二楼(樓) èr lóu
first lady
第一夫人 dìyī fūrén
first name
名 míng [ 个(個) gè ]
first-class
( excellent : worker, piece of work ) 第一流的 dìyīliú de