noun
the first or highest in an ordering or series
Synonyms
number one
Examples
- He wanted to be the first
noun
the first element in a countable series
Synonyms
number one
number 1
Examples
- the first of the month
noun
the time at which something is supposed to begin
Synonyms
Examples
- they got an early start
- she knew from the get-go that he was the man for her
noun
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)
Synonyms
first base
noun
an honours degree of the highest class
Synonyms
first-class honours degree
noun
the lowest forward gear ratio in the gear box of a motor vehicle
Synonyms
Examples
- used to start a car moving
adjective
preceding all others in time or space or degree
Examples
- the first house on the right
- the first day of spring
- his first political race
- her first baby
- the first time
- the first meetings of the new party
- the first phase of his training
adjective
indicating the beginning unit in a series
Synonyms
1st
adjective
serving to set in motion
Synonyms
Examples
- the magazine's inaugural issue
- the initiative phase in the negotiations
- an initiatory step toward a treaty
- his first (or maiden) speech in Congress
- the liner's maiden voyage
adjective
serving to begin
Synonyms
beginning(a)
Examples
- the beginning canto of the poem
- the first verse
adjective
ranking above all others
Synonyms
Examples
- was first in her class
- the foremost figure among marine artists
- the top graduate
adjective
highest in pitch or chief among parts or voices or instruments or orchestra sections
Examples
- first soprano
- the first violin section
- played first horn
adverb
before anything else
Synonyms
Examples
- first we must consider the garter snake
adverb
the initial time
Examples
- when Felix first saw a garter snake
adverb
before another in time, space, or importance
Examples
- I was here first
- let's do this job first
adverb
prominently forward
Synonyms
Examples
- he put his best foot foremost