first
furst
First (adj) means coming before all others in order, rank, or time. Example: “She was the first person to arrive at the office.”
adj
1
Coming before all others in order, rank, or time.
"She was the first person to arrive at the office."
"This is his first novel."
"Her first day at the new school went better than she feared."
adv
1
Before anything else; ahead of other things.
"First, preheat the oven to 200 degrees."
"Wash your hands first, then you can help me set the table."
"Let me think first before I give you an answer."
noun
1
Something that has never happened before.
"Winning the championship was a first for the club."
"Seeing snow in the desert was a first for the whole family."
"Cooking dinner alone was a first for me, and it went surprisingly well."
2
The lowest gear of a vehicle.
"He shifted into first as the light turned green."
"Drivers should select first when starting a steep hill climb."
"The car stalled because I let the clutch out too fast in first."
How to use first
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishComing before everything else, in order or in time.
Common pairings
first place
at first
first time
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Word forms
- Plural
- firsts
- Third person singular
- firsts
- Past tense
- firsted
- Superlative
- firstmost
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Etymology
From Old English fyrest, related to German Fürst ("prince," literally "first-born"), from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "before."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for first
See all rhymes for 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.
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