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1. Dictionary

   First

   /fərst/

   

   ordinal

   • 1. coming before all others in time or order; earliest; 1st: "his first wife" Similar earliestinitialopeningintroductoryoriginalfundamentalbasicrudimentaryprimarybeginningelementalunderlyingbasalfoundationkeycardinalcentralchiefvitalessentialOpposite lastclosingdeveloped
   • ▪ 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?" Similar before anything elsefirst and foremostfirstlyin the first placewithout further adonowOpposite last
   • ▪ 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!" Similar in preferencemore willinglysoonerrather
   • ▪ the first occurrence of something notable: informal "we traveled by air, a first for both of us" Similar noveltynew experiencefirst experiencefirst occurrenceunusual eventinformal:a turn-up for the books
   • ▪ the first in a sequence of a vehicle's gears: "he stuck the car in first and revved"
   • ▪ first base: "he made it all the way home from first"
   • ▪ the first grade of a school. British
   • ▪ a first edition of a book: "collectors of modern firsts"
   • 2. foremost in position, rank, or importance: "the doctor's first duty is to respect this right" Similar foremostprincipalhighestgreatestparamounttoptopmostutmostuppermostprimechiefleadingmainmajorpreeminentoverridingoutstandingsupremepremierpredominantprevailingmost importantof greatest importanceof prime importancevitalkeyessentialcrucialcentralcorefocalpivotaldominantrulingheadinformal:number-onetopbestprimepremiersuperlativewinner'swinningchampionOpposite last
   • ▪ the most likely, pressing, or suitable: "he is the first to admit he was not the best of patients"
   • ▪ the first finisher or position in a race or competition.
   • ▪ performing the highest or chief of two or more parts for the same instrument or voice: "the first violins"
   • ▪ a place in the top grade in an examination, especially that for a degree: British "he took a first in Classics"
   • ▪ a person having achieved a top grade in an examination. British
   • ▪ goods of the best quality: "factory firsts, seconds, and discontinued styles"
   • 3. with a specified part or person in a leading position: "it plunged nose first into the river"

   Word 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.

   Scrabble Points: 8

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2. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › firstFirst Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › first

   • Cached

   The meaning of FIRST is preceding all others in time, order, or importance. How to use first in a sentence.

3. www.dictionary.com › browse › firstFIRST Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

   www.dictionary.com › browse › first

   • Cached

   What is a basic definition of first? First is used to describe something as being original or before anything else, as in time, order, or rank. First can also be used to describe something as happening before something else or as happening for the first time.

4. dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionaryFIRST | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionary

   • Cached

   FIRST meaning: 1. (a person or thing) coming before all others in order, time, amount, quality, or importance: 2…. Learn more.

5. www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › firstFirst - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

   www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › first

   First is number one, prior to, or before. First comes first, then comes everything else. It's always good to be first in line or in first class. Who wants to be second? Or worse — last? Whether it’s a noun, adjective, or adverb, you’ll find first at the beginning and opposite from last.

6. dictionary.cambridge.org › learner-english › firstFIRST | definition in the Cambridge Learner’s Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › learner-english › first

   • Cached

   to be the most important person or thing: Her career always comes first. put sb/sth first. to consider someone or something to be the most important thing: Most couples put their children first when sorting out their problems. First come, first served.

7. www.thefreedictionary.com › firstFirst - definition of first by The Free Dictionary

   www.thefreedictionary.com › first

   • Cached

   adj. 1. Corresponding in order to the number one. 2. Coming before all others in order or location: the first house on your left. 3. Occurring or acting before all others in time; earliest: the first day of spring. 4. Ranking above all others, as in importance or quality; foremost: was first in the class. 5.

8. www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › englishFIRST definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   The first thing, person, event, or period of time is the one that happens or comes before all the others of the same kind.