: preceding all others in time, order, or importance: such as
a
: earliest
She won first prize.
his first girlfriend
b
: being the lowest forward gear or speed of a motor vehicle
couldn't get the car out of first gear
c
: having the highest or most prominent part among a group of similar voices or instruments
first violins
1
a
: before another in time, space, or importance
b
: in the first place
—often used with of all
c
: for the first time
2
: in preference to something else : sooner entry 2
1
: one that is number one in a series see Table of Numbers
2
: something that is first: such as
a
: the first occurrence or item of a kind
b
: the first forward gear or speed of a motor vehicle
c
: the highest or chief voice or instrument of a group
d
: an article of commerce of the finest grade
e
: the winning or highest place in a competition, examination, or contest
3
Synonyms
Examples of first in a Sentence
Adjective
We sat in the first row.
She succeeded on her first attempt.
I still remember the first time I saw her.
Adverb
I have to pay him first.
These problems are not as simple as they first appear.
I loved her when I first saw her.
This word was first recorded in the 19th century.
We'll get started soon, but first we have to make sure everyone is here.
Noun
Her solo flight across the Atlantic was a remarkable first.
They were responsible for several engineering firsts.
I couldn't get the car out of first.
take a first in English
Recent Examples on the Web
Katcy Stephan, Variety, 19 Apr. 2024
Trump is the first former U.S. president to stand criminal trial.
—Isaac Arnsdorf, Washington Post, 19 Apr. 2024
The new single also marks the first collaboration between Swift and Malone.
—Rania Aniftos, Billboard, 19 Apr. 2024
Betts told Rolling Stone of his first reaction to the movie.
—David Browne, Rolling Stone, 18 Apr. 2024
The first man passed away a month after developing symptoms of CJD.
—Katie Hill, Outdoor Life, 18 Apr. 2024
Lue was asked if all goes well with Leonard ramping up at the practices means his best player is a go for the first game.
—Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2024
Interviews by Kate Guadagnino Beginners A first album, a first restaurant, a first time on Broadway: Ten debuts happening right now.
—Juan A. Ramírez, New York Times, 18 Apr. 2024
Lionel Messi, playing his first game in nearly a month, showed no signs of rust, scoring an equalizing goal for Inter Miami 13 minutes after entering the game in the second half against the Colorado Rapids Saturday night.
—Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 7 Apr. 2024
Chloé Cooper Jones Emily Woo Zeller Krish Seenivasan Zachary Mouton, New York Times, 19 Apr. 2024
Eight years after they were first linked in the press, Swift and the 1975 singer Matty Healy were finally, actually dating — and have now broken up just as quickly, per a new TMZ report.
—Justin Curto, Vulture, 19 Apr. 2024
The event started in 2018, when it was first held at Cesar Chavez Plaza downtown.
—Marcus D. Smith, Sacramento Bee, 19 Apr. 2024
Swift first released a 16-song version of Tortured Poets at midnight Friday before following it up with the album’s extended Anthology edition two hours later.
—Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 19 Apr. 2024
The New York Times first reported the news of the Sony and Apollo talks.
—Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2024
These are the callous questions doctors are now forced to think through, all the while our patient is counting on us to do the right thing and put their needs first.
—Caitlin Gustafson, TIME, 19 Apr. 2024
Joel first performed there in 1978, a year after The Police band was formed.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Apr. 2024
First things first, Weilerstein is a gripping performer to watch and a masterful interpreter of Bach, displaying an alluringly personal and effortlessly expressive engagement with the suites.
—Michael Andor Brodeur, Washington Post, 7 Apr. 2024
Chris Welch, The Verge, 8 Apr. 2024
Maluma is soaking up the precious firsts with his baby girl.
—Angela Andaloro, Peoplemag, 1 Apr. 2024
Where to Watch the Games In one of many firsts, the opening ceremony on July 26 will unfold not in a stadium, but in the heart of the city itself as 160 boats filled with athletes parade along the Seine to the Trocadéro, converting the river into the main stage.
—Lane Nieset, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
In a historic first since the end of the Cold War, Berlin will meet the 2% target this year for the first time.
—Reuters, NBC News, 14 Feb. 2024
The 2021 title with the Braves not only came with the magic of being his elusive first but also was magnified by being a Georgia native.
—Vahe Gregorian, Kansas City Star, 26 Mar. 2024
SpaceX still needs to pull off a series of formidable rocketry firsts before Starship is ready to head to the moon and beyond.
—Kenneth Chang, New York Times, 14 Mar. 2024
Each year’s Academy Award nominations arrive with an array of notable firsts and other cool factoids that speed the hearts of Oscar lovers and movie trivia fans everywhere.
—Gary Goldstein, Los Angeles Times, 12 Feb. 2024
This machine debuted a number of technical firsts for Yamaha—the first ride-by-wire throttle in Yamaha’s Chip Controlled Throttle (YCCT), variable inlet tracts, titanium inlet and exhaust valves and an ear-splitting 18,000 rpm redline.
—Peter Jackson, Robb Report, 1 Mar. 2024
Adjective
When a shady property developer is found dead, the four find themselves in the middle of their first live crime.
—Katcy Stephan, Variety, 19 Apr. 2024
Trump is the first former U.S. president to stand criminal trial.
—Isaac Arnsdorf, Washington Post, 19 Apr. 2024
The new single also marks the first collaboration between Swift and Malone.
—Rania Aniftos, Billboard, 19 Apr. 2024
Betts told Rolling Stone of his first reaction to the movie.
—David Browne, Rolling Stone, 18 Apr. 2024
The first man passed away a month after developing symptoms of CJD.
—Katie Hill, Outdoor Life, 18 Apr. 2024
Lue was asked if all goes well with Leonard ramping up at the practices means his best player is a go for the first game.
—Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2024
Interviews by Kate Guadagnino Beginners A first album, a first restaurant, a first time on Broadway: Ten debuts happening right now.
—Juan A. Ramírez, New York Times, 18 Apr. 2024
Lionel Messi, playing his first game in nearly a month, showed no signs of rust, scoring an equalizing goal for Inter Miami 13 minutes after entering the game in the second half against the Colorado Rapids Saturday night.
—Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 7 Apr. 2024
Adverb
My body is locking up; first my neck, my hips, my legs and, soon, my back.
—Chloé Cooper Jones Emily Woo Zeller Krish Seenivasan Zachary Mouton, New York Times, 19 Apr. 2024
Eight years after they were first linked in the press, Swift and the 1975 singer Matty Healy were finally, actually dating — and have now broken up just as quickly, per a new TMZ report.
—Justin Curto, Vulture, 19 Apr. 2024
The event started in 2018, when it was first held at Cesar Chavez Plaza downtown.
—Marcus D. Smith, Sacramento Bee, 19 Apr. 2024
Swift first released a 16-song version of Tortured Poets at midnight Friday before following it up with the album’s extended Anthology edition two hours later.
—Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 19 Apr. 2024
The New York Times first reported the news of the Sony and Apollo talks.
—Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2024
These are the callous questions doctors are now forced to think through, all the while our patient is counting on us to do the right thing and put their needs first.
—Caitlin Gustafson, TIME, 19 Apr. 2024
Joel first performed there in 1978, a year after The Police band was formed.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Apr. 2024
First things first, Weilerstein is a gripping performer to watch and a masterful interpreter of Bach, displaying an alluringly personal and effortlessly expressive engagement with the suites.
—Michael Andor Brodeur, Washington Post, 7 Apr. 2024
Noun
That phrase was bandied about because there were a number of firsts that went down in Philly.
—Chris Welch, The Verge, 8 Apr. 2024
Maluma is soaking up the precious firsts with his baby girl.
—Angela Andaloro, Peoplemag, 1 Apr. 2024
Where to Watch the Games In one of many firsts, the opening ceremony on July 26 will unfold not in a stadium, but in the heart of the city itself as 160 boats filled with athletes parade along the Seine to the Trocadéro, converting the river into the main stage.
—Lane Nieset, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
In a historic first since the end of the Cold War, Berlin will meet the 2% target this year for the first time.
—Reuters, NBC News, 14 Feb. 2024
The 2021 title with the Braves not only came with the magic of being his elusive first but also was magnified by being a Georgia native.
—Vahe Gregorian, Kansas City Star, 26 Mar. 2024
SpaceX still needs to pull off a series of formidable rocketry firsts before Starship is ready to head to the moon and beyond.
—Kenneth Chang, New York Times, 14 Mar. 2024
Each year’s Academy Award nominations arrive with an array of notable firsts and other cool factoids that speed the hearts of Oscar lovers and movie trivia fans everywhere.
—Gary Goldstein, Los Angeles Times, 12 Feb. 2024
This machine debuted a number of technical firsts for Yamaha—the first ride-by-wire throttle in Yamaha’s Chip Controlled Throttle (YCCT), variable inlet tracts, titanium inlet and exhaust valves and an ear-splitting 18,000 rpm redline.
—Peter Jackson, Robb Report, 1 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'first.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“First.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/first. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
first
2 of 3 adverb1
a
: before any other in time, space, or importance
b
: for the first time
2
: rather than something else
surrender? We will die first
first
3 of 3 noun1
: one that is number one in a series see number
2
a
: the first forward gear or speed of a motor vehicle
b
: the winning place in a competition or contest
3
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