FIRST

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does first mean? 

• FIRST (noun)
  The noun FIRST has 6 senses:

1. the first or highest in an ordering or series

2. the first element in a countable series

3. the time at which something is supposed to begin

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)

5. an honours degree of the highest class

6. the lowest forward gear ratio in the gear box of a motor vehicle; used to start a car moving

  Familiarity information: FIRST used as a noun is common.

• FIRST (adjective)
  The adjective FIRST has 6 senses:

1. preceding all others in time or space or degree

2. indicating the beginning unit in a series

3. serving to set in motion

4. serving to begin

5. ranking above all others

6. highest in pitch or chief among parts or voices or instruments or orchestra sections

  Familiarity information: FIRST used as an adjective is common.

• FIRST (adverb)
  The adverb FIRST has 4 senses:

1. before anything else

2. the initial time

3. before another in time, space, or importance

4. prominently forward

  Familiarity information: FIRST used as an adverb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• FIRST (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The first or highest in an ordering or series

Classified under:

Nouns denoting relations between people or things or ideas

Synonyms:

first; number one

Context example:

He wanted to be the first

Hypernyms ("first" is a kind of...):

rank (relative status)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "first"):

former (the first of two or the first mentioned of two)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The first element in a countable series

Classified under:

Nouns denoting quantities and units of measure

Synonyms:

first; number 1; number one

Context example:

the first of the month

Hypernyms ("first" is a kind of...):

no.; ordinal; ordinal number (the number designating place in an ordered sequence)

Sense 3

Meaning:

The time at which something is supposed to begin

Classified under:

Nouns denoting time and temporal relations

Synonyms:

beginning; commencement; first; get-go; kickoff; offset; outset; showtime; start; starting time

Context example:

she knew from the get-go that he was the man for her

Hypernyms ("first" is a kind of...):

point; point in time (an instant of time)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "first"):

birth (the time when something begins (especially life))

incipience; incipiency (beginning to exist or to be apparent)

starting point; terminus a quo (earliest limiting point)

threshold (the starting point for a new state or experience)

Sense 4

Meaning:

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)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

first; first base

Hypernyms ("first" is a kind of...):

position ((in team sports) the role assigned to an individual player)

Holonyms ("first" is a member of...):

baseball team (a team that plays baseball)

Sense 5

Meaning:

An honours degree of the highest class

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

first; first-class honours degree

Hypernyms ("first" is a kind of...):

honours; honours degree (a university degree with honors)

Domain region:

Britain; Great Britain; U.K.; UK; United Kingdom; United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (a monarchy in northwestern Europe occupying most of the British Isles; divided into England and Scotland and Wales and Northern Ireland; 'Great Britain' is often used loosely to refer to the United Kingdom)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "first"):

double first (a first-class honours degree in two subjects)

Sense 6

Meaning:

The lowest forward gear ratio in the gear box of a motor vehicle; used to start a car moving

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

first; first gear; low; low gear

Hypernyms ("first" is a kind of...):

gear; gear mechanism (a mechanism for transmitting motion for some specific purpose (as the steering gear of a vehicle))

Holonyms ("first" is a part of...):

auto; automobile; car; machine; motorcar (a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine)

• FIRST (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Preceding all others in time or space or degree

Context example:

the first phase of his training

Similar:

archetypal; archetypical; prototypal; prototypic; prototypical (representing or constituting an original type after which other similar things are patterned)

basic; introductory (serving as a base or starting point)

initial (occurring at the beginning)

eldest; firstborn (first in order of birth)

first-year; freshman (used of a person in the first year of an experience (especially in United States high school or college))

original (preceding all others in time or being as first made or performed)

premier; premiere (preceding all others in time)

premier; prime (first in rank or degree)

prime (used of the first or originating agent)

Also:

front (relating to or located in the front)

early (at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time)

original (being or productive of something fresh and unusual; or being as first made or thought of)

primary (of first rank or importance or value; direct and immediate rather than secondary)

Antonym:

last (coming after all others in time or space or degree or being the only one remaining)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Indicating the beginning unit in a series

Synonyms:

1st; first

Similar:

ordinal (being or denoting a numerical order in a series)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Serving to set in motion

Synonyms:

first; inaugural; initiative; initiatory; maiden

Context example:

the liner's maiden voyage

Similar:

opening (first or beginning)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Serving to begin

Synonyms:

beginning; first

Context example:

the first verse

Similar:

opening (first or beginning)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Ranking above all others

Synonyms:

first; foremost; world-class

Context example:

the top graduate

Similar:

best ((superlative of 'good') having the most positive qualities)

Sense 6

Meaning:

Highest in pitch or chief among parts or voices or instruments or orchestra sections

Context example:

played first horn

Domain category:

music (an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner)

Antonym:

second (a part or voice or instrument or orchestra section lower in pitch than or subordinate to the first)

• FIRST (adverb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Before anything else

Synonyms:

first; first of all; first off; firstly; foremost

Context example:

first we must consider the garter snake

Sense 2

Meaning:

The initial time

Context example:

when Felix first saw a garter snake

Sense 3

Meaning:

Before another in time, space, or importance

Context example:

let's do this job first

Sense 4

Meaning:

Prominently forward

Synonyms:

first; foremost

Context example:

he put his best foot foremost

 Context examples 

"What a dreadful day this has been!" began Jo, usually the first to speak.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

The little tailor began his game again, picked out the biggest stone, and threw it with all his might on the breast of the first giant.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

At first they melted as soon as they came in contact with the earth, but ever more fell, covering the ground, putting out the fire, spoiling his supply of moss-fuel.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

In the morning it was Henry who awoke first and routed his companion out of bed.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

Some people say that the manager just plunges his hand into the heap and takes the first that comes.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He watched the easy walk of the other in front of him, and for the first time realized that his walk was different from that of other men.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Indeed, at first he was angry and said I should send you back where you came from.

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)

"Well, in the first place, I don't think my ideal would speak like that," said she.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Tell all the first form to rise up and direct their faces to the wall.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

At first, you may have no symptoms or mild symptoms.

(Acoustic Neuroma, NIH: National Institute of Deafness and Communication Disorders)