first

Syllabification: (first)

Pronunciation: /fərst/

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Definition of first

number

1coming before all others in time or order; earliest; 1st:his first wife the first of five daughters
never previously done or occurring:her first day at school
coming next after a specified or implied time or occurrence:I didn’t take the first bus
met with or encountered before any others:the first house I came to
originally:many valuable drugs have been recognized first as poisons
before doing something else specified or implied:do you mind if I take a shower first?
for the first time:she first picked up a guitar out of sheer boredom
firstly; in the first place (used to introduce a first point or reason):first, it is wrong that the victims should have no remedy
in preference; rather (used when strongly rejecting a suggestion or possibility):she longed to go abroad, but not at this man’s expense—she’d die first!
with a specified part or person in a leading position:it plunged nose first into the river
informal the first occurrence of something notable:we traveled by air, a first for both of us
the first in a sequence of a vehicle’s gears:he stuck the car in first and revved
Baseball first base:he made it all the way home from first
the first grade of a school.
a first edition of a book.

2foremost in position, rank, or importance:the doctor’s first duty is to respect this right career women who put work first football must come first
[often with infinitive] the most likely, pressing, or suitable:he is the first to admit he was not the best of patients his first problem is where to live
the first finisher or position in a race or competition.
Music performing the highest or chief of two or more parts for the same instrument or voice:the first violins
(firsts) goods of the best quality:factory firsts, seconds, and discontinued styles
British a place in the top grade in an examination, especially that for a degree:he took a first in Classics
British a person having achieved a top grade in an examination.

Phrases

at first: at the beginning; in the initial stage or stages:at first Hugh tried to be patient
at first glance: see glance¹.
at first hand: see firsthand.
at first instance: see instance.
at first sight: see sight.
(the) first among equals: see equal.
first blood: see blood.
first come, first served: used to indicate that people will be dealt with in the order in which they arrive or apply:tickets are available on a first come, first served basis
first and foremost: most importantly; more than anything else:I’m first and foremost a writer
first and last: fundamentally; on the whole:museums are first and last about curatorship
first of all: before doing anything else; at the beginning:first of all, let me ask you something; most importantly:German unity depends first of all on the German people
first off: informal, chiefly North American as a first point; first of all:first off, I owe you a heck of an apology
first past the post: (of a contestant, especially a horse, in a race) winning a race by being the first to reach the finish line.; [attributive] British denoting an electoral system in which a candidate or party is selected by achievement of a simple majority:our first-past-the-post electoral system
first thing: early in the morning; before anything else:I have to meet Josh first thing tomorrow
first things first: used to assert that important matters should be dealt with before other things.
from the (very) first: from the beginning or the early stages:he should have realized it from the first
from first to last: from beginning to end; throughout:it’s a fine performance that commands attention from first to last
get to first base: see base¹.
in the first place: as the first consideration or point:political reality was not quite that simple—in the first place, divisions existed within the parties; at the beginning; to begin with (especially in reference to the time when an action was being planned or discussed):I should have told you in the first place
of the first order (or magnitude): used to denote something that is excellent or considerable of its kind:it is a media event of the first order
of the first water: see water.

Origin:

Old Englishfyr(e)st; of Germanic origin, related to Old Norse fyrstr and German Fürst 'prince', from an Indo-European root shared by Sanskrit prathama, Latin primus, and Greek prōtos

First, second, third, etc., are adverbs as well as adjectives: first, dice three potatoes; second, add the bouillon. Firstly, secondly, etc., are also correct, but make sure not to mix the two groups: first, second, third; not first, secondly, thirdly. See also former¹ (usage).

first in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of first in the British & World English dictionary

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Other

first

number

Phrases

at first

at first glance

at first hand

at first instance

at first sight

(the) first among equals

first blood

first come, first served

first and foremost

first and last

first of all

first off

first past the post

first thing

first things first

from the (very) first

from first to last

get to first base

in the first place

of the first order (or magnitude)

of the first water

Origin:

first in other Oxford dictionaries

Nearby words

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