first
0 antonyms and opposites of first, grouped by meaning.
Adj — Coming before all others in order, rank, or time.
How to use first
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old English fyrest, related to German Fürst ("prince," literally "first-born"), from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "before."
Full origin of first →Frequently asked questions
What does “first” mean?
The word “first” means coming before all others in order, rank, or time. In plain terms, coming before everything else, in order or in time.
How do you pronounce “first”?
“First” is pronounced furst (/fɚst/ in IPA).
How do you use “first” in a sentence?
Here is “first” used in a sentence: “She was the first person to arrive at the office.”
What part of speech is “first”?
Depending on how it is used, “first” can be an adjective, an adverb and a noun.
Where does the word “first” come from?
The word “first” comes from Old English. From Old English fyrest, related to German Fürst ("prince," literally "first-born"), from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "before.".
Is “first” a common word?
“First” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “first” have?
“First” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: coming before all others in order, rank, or time.
What is the opposite of 'first'?
The opposite is 'last,' meaning coming after all others. 'First' marks the start of an order or sequence, while 'last' marks the end — 'the first day' contrasts with 'the last day.' Other near-opposites include 'final' and, for rank, 'lowest' or 'last place.'
Is 'first' an ordinal number?
Yes. 'First' is the ordinal form of 'one,' describing position in a sequence rather than quantity. Ordinals — first, second, third — tell you the order of things, while cardinals — one, two, three — tell you how many. So 'first' answers 'which one?', not 'how many?'
What is the difference between 'first' and 'foremost'?
'First' refers to position — coming before all others in order or time. 'Foremost' refers to importance — the leading or most prominent. The phrase 'first and foremost' combines both, stressing that something is the top priority. You can be first in line without being the foremost expert.
What is an example of 'first' as an adjective?
In 'the first chapter,' 'first' tells you it comes before all the others in order. Other examples include 'her first job,' 'the first time,' and 'first place.' In each, 'first' ranks the noun ahead of everything else in sequence, time, or importance.