First meaning

What does “first” mean? Definitions, examples, synonyms and opposites.

“first” is a noun, adjective and adverb with 16 meanings. Its most common meaning is: the first or highest in an ordering or series.

first

the first or highest in an ordering or series
“He wanted to be the first”
Synonymsnumber one
the first element in a countable series
“the first of the month”
Synonymsnumber one number 1
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”
Synonymsbeginning commencement outset get-go start kickoff starting time showtime
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)
Synonymsfirst base
an honours degree of the highest class
Synonymsfirst-class honours degree
the lowest forward gear ratio in the gear box of a motor vehicle; used to start a car moving
Synonymsfirst gear low gear low

preceding all others in time or space or degree
“the first house on the right”
“the first day of spring”
Oppositeslast
indicating the beginning unit in a series
Synonyms1st
serving to set in motion
“the magazine's inaugural issue”
“the initiative phase in the negotiations”
Synonymsinaugural initiative initiatory maiden
serving to begin
“the beginning canto of the poem”
“the first verse”
Synonymsbeginning
ranking above all others
“was first in her class”
“the foremost figure among marine artists”
Synonymsforemost world-class
highest in pitch or chief among parts or voices or instruments or orchestra sections
“first soprano”
“the first violin section”
Oppositessecond

before anything else
“first we must consider the garter snake”
Synonymsfirstly foremost first of all first off
the initial time
“when Felix first saw a garter snake”
before another in time, space, or importance
“I was here first”
“let's do this job first”
prominently forward
“he put his best foot foremost”
Synonymsforemost

Source: WordNet 3.1, Princeton University