first
/fɪrst//fɜːst//fɝst/
noun
- 1
The person or thing in the first position.
“He was the first to complete the course.”
- 2
The first gear of an engine.
- 3
Something that has never happened before; a new occurrence.
“This is a first. For once he has nothing to say.”
- 4
First base
“There was a close play at first.”
- 5
A first-class honours degree.
- 6
A first-edition copy of some publication.
- 7
A fraction of an integer ending in one.
“one forty-first of the estate”
adjective
- 1
Preceding all others of a series or kind; the ordinal of one; earliest.
“I was the first runner to reach the finish line, and won the race.”
- 2
Most eminent or exalted; most excellent; chief; highest.
“Demosthenes was the first orator of Greece.”
adverb
- 1
Before anything else; firstly.
“Clean the sink first, before you even think of starting to cook.”
- 2
For the first time;
“I first witnessed a death when I was nine years old.”
noun
- 1
Time; time granted; respite.
Translate “first” to another language
Click any language to open the translator with this word already filled in.