First — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective adverb noun /ˈfərst/

Meaning & Definition of First

First (adjective)

  1. preceding all others in time, order, or importance
  2. earliest
  3. being the lowest forward gear or speed of a motor vehicle

First (adverb)

  1. before another in time, space, or importance
  2. as the first thing to be mentioned —often used with of all or off
  3. for the first time

First (noun)

  1. one that is number one in a series
  2. something that is first
  3. the first occurrence or item of a kind

First (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. coming before all others in time or order

    "the much-studied first—and last—voyage of the Titanic"

    similar: earliest, foremost, headmost, inaugural, initial, leadoff, maiden, original, pioneer, premier, virgin
    related: ancient, early, primal, primary, prime, primeval, primitive, primordial, antecedent, preceding, previous
    opposite: final, last, latest, latter, terminal, terminating, ultimate
    near: advanced, late, consequent, ensuing, following, subsequent, succeeding, penultimate

  2. coming before all others in importance

    "there are a number of reasons we can't go, but the first is that we don't have the money"

    similar: arch, big, capital, cardinal, central, chief, dominant, foremost, grand, great, greatest, highest, key, leading, main, master, number one, numero uno, overbearing, overmastering, overriding, paramount, predominant, preeminent, premier, primal, primary, principal, prior, sovereign, supreme
    related: distinguished, eminent, illustrious, noble, notable, noteworthy, outstanding, prestigious, signal, star, stellar, superior, high-level, senior, top, important, influential, major, mighty, momentous, significant, incomparable, matchless, unequaled, unparalleled, unsurpassed, celebrated, famed, famous, renowned
    opposite: last, least
    near: inconsequential, inconsiderable, insignificant, minor, negligible, slight, trifling, trivial, unimportant, collateral, inferior, secondary, subordinate, subsidiary

  3. highest in rank or authority

    "auditioned and got first clarinet in the band"

    similar: chief, commanding, foremost, head, high, lead, leading, preeminent, premier, presiding, primary, prime, principal, supereminent, supreme, top, in charge
    related: high-level, senior, controlling, directing, managing, officiating, overseeing, regnant, reigning, ruling, supervisory, main, major, paramount, predominant, predominate, sovereign, ascendant, dominant, grand, superior, topmost, upmost, upper, uppermost
    near: ancillary, inferior, last, less, lesser, lower, lowly, second, secondary, subordinate, subsidiary, assistant, assisting, coadjutor, deputy, junior, under

First (adverb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as a substitute

    "eat peas? I'd eat cockroaches first"

    similar: instead, rather, in lieu
    related: alternately, alternatively

  2. by choice or preference

    "we will not give in, but will fight for our freedom first"

    similar: fain, preferably, rather, readily, soon, willingly
    related: alternately, alternatively, either, instead, electively, optionally, desirably, gladly, wishfully, obligingly, voluntarily
    opposite: involuntarily, unwillingly
    near: reluctantly, forcibly, willy-nilly

Related Entry: First-class (adjective)

First-class is a different word from First. The synonyms below are for first-class, not for first.

  1. of the very best kind

    "a first-class production of a classic American musical"

    similar: A-OK, A1, awesome, bang-up, banner, beautiful, blue-chip, blue-ribbon, boffo, bonny (chiefly British), boss (slang), brag, brave, bully, bumper, capital, choice, classic, cool (slang), corking, crackerjack, cracking, dandy, divine, dope (slang), down (slang), dynamite, excellent, fab, fabulous, famous, fantabulous (slang), fantastic, fine, first-rate, first-string, five-star, four-star, frontline, gangbusters, gilt-edged, gone (slang), grand, great, groovy, heavenly, high-class, hot, hype (slang), immense, jim-dandy, keen, lovely, marvelous, mean, neat, nifty, noble, number one, numero uno, out-of-sight (slang), par excellence, peachy, peachy keen, phat (slang), prime, primo (slang), prize, prizewinning, quality, radical (slang), righteous (slang), sensational, slick, splendid, stellar, sterling, superb, superior, superlative, supernal, swell, terrific, tip-top, top, top-notch, top-of-the-line, top-shelf, topflight, topping (chiefly British), unsurpassed, wizard (chiefly British), wonderful, out of this world, too much
    related: acceptable, adequate, all right, decent, good, OK, passable, satisfactory, tolerable, better, exceptional, fancy, high-grade, high-test, premium, select, special, superfine, classical, standard, traditional
    opposite: atrocious, awful, execrable, lousy, pathetic, poor, rotten, terrible, vile, wretched
    near: bad, inferior, low-grade, substandard, unsatisfactory, mediocre, middling, second-class, second-rate

Related Entry: First estate (noun)

First estate is a different word from First. The synonyms below are for first estate, not for first.

  1. the group ordained to perform clerical functions in the Christian church

    "a nation in which the first estate had long held a privileged position"

    similar: church, clergy, cloth, ministry, spirituality, spiritualty
    related: diaconate, episcopate, hierarchy, presbytery, clerkship, monkhood, priesthood
    opposite: laity

Related Entry: First-line (adjective)

First-line is a different word from First. The synonyms below are for first-line, not for first.

  1. singled out from a number or group as more to one's liking

    "surgery is usually not considered a first-line treatment for this type of cancer"

    similar: cherry-picked, choice, chosen, elect, favored, favorite, handpicked, picked, preferred, select, selected, of choice
    related: fashionable, exclusive, culled, picked over, screened, weeded (out), winnowed (out)
    near: average, common, commonplace, ordinary, run-of-the-mill

Related Entry: First name (noun)

First name is a different word from First. The synonyms below are for first name, not for first.

  1. a name that is placed before one's family name

    "the parents still haven't picked a first name for the baby"

    similar: Christian name, forename, given name, prename
    related: appellation, denomination, designation, cognomen, denotation, epithet, handle, nickname, sobriquet, title, alias, nom de plume, pen name, pseudonym, baptismal name

Related Entry: First-rate (adjective)

First-rate is a different word from First. The synonyms below are for first-rate, not for first.

  1. of the very best kind

    "wanted a first-rate bike and not the cheap model she had been using"

    similar: A-OK, A1, awesome, bang-up, banner, beautiful, blue-chip, blue-ribbon, boffo, bonny (chiefly British), boss (slang), brag, brave, bully, bumper, capital, choice, classic, cool (slang), corking, crackerjack, cracking, dandy, divine, dope (slang), down (slang), dynamite, excellent, fab, fabulous, famous, fantabulous (slang), fantastic, fine, first-class, first-string, five-star, four-star, frontline, gangbusters, gilt-edged, gone (slang), grand, great, groovy, heavenly, high-class, hot, hype (slang), immense, jim-dandy, keen, lovely, marvelous, mean, neat, nifty, noble, number one, numero uno, out-of-sight (slang), par excellence, peachy, peachy keen, phat (slang), prime, primo (slang), prize, prizewinning, quality, radical (slang), righteous (slang), sensational, slick, splendid, stellar, sterling, superb, superior, superlative, supernal, swell, terrific, tip-top, top, top-notch, top-of-the-line, top-shelf, topflight, topping (chiefly British), unsurpassed, wizard (chiefly British), wonderful, out of this world, too much
    related: acceptable, adequate, all right, decent, good, OK, passable, satisfactory, tolerable, better, exceptional, fancy, high-grade, high-test, premium, select, special, superfine, classical, standard, traditional
    opposite: atrocious, awful, execrable, lousy, pathetic, poor, rotten, terrible, vile, wretched
    near: bad, inferior, low-grade, substandard, unsatisfactory, mediocre, middling, second-class, second-rate

Related Entry: First-rateness (noun)

First-rateness is a different word from First. The synonyms below are for first-rateness, not for first.

  1. exceptionally high quality

    "touristy restaurants generally are not known for the first-rateness of their cuisine"

    similar: choiceness, distinction, excellence, excellency, greatness, perfection, preeminence, primeness, superbness, superiority, supremacy
    related: faultlessness, flawlessness, impeccability, perfectness, goodness, value, worth, consequence, importance, notability
    near: averageness, badness, crumminess, inferiority, mediocrity, ordinariness, worthlessness

Related Entry: First-string (adjective)

First-string is a different word from First. The synonyms below are for first-string, not for first.

  1. of the very best kind

    "a first-string rendition of the musical piece"

    similar: A-OK, A1, awesome, bang-up, banner, beautiful, blue-chip, blue-ribbon, boffo, bonny (chiefly British), boss (slang), brag, brave, bully, bumper, capital, choice, classic, cool (slang), corking, crackerjack, cracking, dandy, divine, dope (slang), down (slang), dynamite, excellent, fab, fabulous, famous, fantabulous (slang), fantastic, fine, first-class, first-rate, five-star, four-star, frontline, gangbusters, gilt-edged, gone (slang), grand, great, groovy, heavenly, high-class, hot, hype (slang), immense, jim-dandy, keen, lovely, marvelous, mean, neat, nifty, noble, number one, numero uno, out-of-sight (slang), par excellence, peachy, peachy keen, phat (slang), prime, primo (slang), prize, prizewinning, quality, radical (slang), righteous (slang), sensational, slick, splendid, stellar, sterling, superb, superior, superlative, supernal, swell, terrific, tip-top, top, top-notch, top-of-the-line, top-shelf, topflight, topping (chiefly British), unsurpassed, wizard (chiefly British), wonderful, out of this world, too much
    related: acceptable, adequate, all right, decent, good, OK, passable, satisfactory, tolerable, better, exceptional, fancy, high-grade, high-test, premium, select, special, superfine, classical, standard, traditional
    opposite: atrocious, awful, execrable, lousy, pathetic, poor, rotten, terrible, vile, wretched
    near: bad, inferior, low-grade, substandard, unsatisfactory, mediocre, middling, second-class, second-rate

Related Entry: First blush (phrase)

First blush is a different word from First. The synonyms below are for first blush, not for first.

  1. outward and often deceptive indication

    "At first blush the story seemed plausible, but a closer look proved it to be false."

    similar: appearance, face, guise, name, outward, seeming, semblance, show
    related: air, effect, impression, hint, implication, insinuation, resemblance, suggestion, affectation, demonstration, display, fiction, image, imitation, imposture, likeness, make-believe, pose, pretense, representation, simulation, cloak, disguise, exterior, facade, front, gloss, mask, masquerade, patina, Potemkin village, shape, shell, surface, veneer

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for First

The most common words with a similar meaning to First:

earliest, foremost, headmost, inaugural, initial, leadoff, maiden, original, pioneer, premier, virgin, arch, big, capital, cardinal, central, chief, dominant, grand, great, greatest, highest, key, leading, main, master, number one, numero uno, overbearing, overmastering, overriding, paramount, predominant, preeminent, primal, primary, principal, prior, sovereign, supreme

Antonyms & Opposite Words for First

Words with the opposite meaning of First:

final, last, latest, latter, terminal, terminating, ultimate, least, involuntarily, unwillingly

Related Words for First

ancient, early, primeval, primitive, primordial, antecedent, preceding, previous, distinguished, eminent, illustrious, noble, notable, noteworthy, outstanding, prestigious, signal, star, stellar, superior, high-level, senior, important, influential, major, mighty, momentous, significant, incomparable, matchless

Near Antonyms of First

advanced, late, consequent, ensuing, following, subsequent, succeeding, penultimate, inconsequential, inconsiderable, insignificant, minor, negligible, slight, trifling, trivial, unimportant, collateral, inferior, secondary, subordinate, subsidiary, ancillary, less, lesser, lower, lowly, second, assistant, assisting

Origin & Etymology of First

Middle English, from Old English fyrst; akin to Old High German furist first, Old English faran to go fare

First known use: before 12th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for First

Words & Phrases Containing First

first aid, first base, first cause, first-class, first come, first served, first class, first cousin

Frequently Asked Questions about First

What does "First" mean?

"First" means preceding all others in time, order, or importance. As an an adjective, an adverb and a noun, it is defined as: preceding all others in time, order, or importance. It has 5 distinct senses.

What is another word for "First"?

Other words for "First" include earliest, foremost, headmost, inaugural, initial, leadoff, maiden and original. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "First" you intend.

What are different ways to say "First"?

There are 119 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "First". Common alternatives include earliest, foremost, headmost, inaugural, initial, leadoff, maiden, original, pioneer and premier.

What is the opposite of "First"?

Antonyms of "First" include final, last, latest, latter, terminal, terminating, ultimate and least. Near antonyms include advanced, late, consequent and ensuing.

How do you use "First" in a sentence?

Examples of "First" in a sentence: "the much-studied first—and last—voyage of the Titanic"; "there are a number of reasons we can't go, but the first is that we don't have the money"; "auditioned and got first clarinet in the band".

Is "First" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"First" can be used as an adjective, an adverb and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "First" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A1-level word, "First" is typical of Cambridge A1 Movers (Young Learners), TOEIC Listening & Reading 120+.

How do you pronounce "First"?

"First" is pronounced /ˈfərst/.