first meaning and definition

FIRST noun

Definition of first (noun)

1. the first or highest in an ordering or series
   • "He wanted to be the first"
   • synonyms: number one
2. the first element in a countable series
   • "the first of the month"
   • synonyms: number 1, number one
3. the time at which something is supposed to begin
   • "they got an early start"; "she knew from the get-go that he was the man for her"
   • synonyms: beginning, commencement, get-go, kickoff, offset, outset, showtime, start, starting time
   • antonym: middle
4. 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
5. an honours degree of the highest class
   • synonyms: first-class honours degree
6. the lowest forward gear ratio in the gear box of a motor vehicle; used to start a car moving
   • synonyms: first gear, low, low gear

FIRST adjective

Definition of first (adjective)

1. preceding all others in time or space or degree
   • "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"
   • antonym: last
2. indicating the beginning unit in a series
   • synonyms: 1st
3. serving to set in motion
   • "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"
   • synonyms: inaugural, initiative, initiatory, maiden
4. serving to begin
   • "the beginning canto of the poem"; "the first verse"
   • synonyms: beginning
5. ranking above all others
   • "was first in her class"; "the foremost figure among marine artists"; "the top graduate"
   • synonyms: foremost, world-class
6. highest in pitch or chief among parts or voices or instruments or orchestra sections
   • "first soprano"; "the first violin section"; "played first horn"
   • antonym: second

FIRST adverb

Definition of first (adverb)

1. before anything else
   • "first we must consider the garter snake"
   • synonyms: first of all, first off, firstly, foremost
2. the initial time
   • "when Felix first saw a garter snake"
   • synonyms: for the first time
3. before another in time, space, or importance
   • "I was here first"; "let's do this job first"
4. prominently forward
   • "he put his best foot foremost"
   • synonyms: foremost