first
first Lexical Profile
first Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Coming before all others in time, order, or sequence; earliest.
"She published her first novel shortly after graduating from university."
Foremost in position, rank, quality, or importance.
"Safety is always our first priority when designing new public transit systems."
Designating the highest or leading voice or instrument of a particular section in an orchestra or choir.
"After years of dedicated practice, he was appointed first violin in the symphony orchestra."
• adverb
Before any other person or thing in time, order, or sequence; at the beginning.
"Please read the instructions carefully first before assembling the shelving unit."
For the first time.
"The two scientists first met at an international conference in Geneva."
In preference to something else; rather; sooner.
"She vowed she would resign from the committee first before compromising her ethical standards."
• pronoun
The person or thing that comes before all others in time, order, series, or rank.
"She was the first to arrive at the lecture hall and the last to leave."
The beginning or earliest part of something, especially the first day of a month.
"Rent payments are due on the first of every month."
• noun
An event, achievement, or instance that has never happened or been done before; an unprecedented occurrence.
"Completing the marathon in under three hours was a personal first for the dedicated runner."
The lowest forward gear in a motor vehicle or bicycle transmission, used for starting from a stationary position or climbing steep inclines.
"He shifted the manual transmission into first as the car approached the steep mountain grade."
American First base in the game of baseball or softball.
"The batter hit a sharp grounder and sprinted toward first."
British An undergraduate degree awarded with first-class honors, representing the highest academic distinction at a British university.
"She graduated with a first in history from Oxford University."
Word Nuance & Usage
When enumerating points in formal writing, both 'first' and 'firstly' are grammatically acceptable, though modern style guides generally prefer the simpler 'first'.
• Rhymes for first
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old English 'fyrst', meaning 'foremost' or 'earliest', a superlative adjective derived from the Proto-Germanic root '*furistaz' (foremost), which is related to 'fore' and 'forth'.