first

[furst] / fɜrst /

ADJECTIVE

earliest in order

Synonyms

STRONGEST

early

STRONG

aboriginal antecedent anterior basic beginning cardinal front fundamental head inaugural initial key leading opening original pioneer premier primary prime primitive

WEAK

elementary first off headmost in the beginning inceptive incipient introductory lead off number one numero uno primeval primogenial primordial pristine right up front rudimentary

Antonyms

STRONGEST

last

STRONG

ending extra final following second

ADJECTIVE

highest in importance

Synonyms

STRONG

arch champion chief dominant foremost head leading main premier primary prime primo principal ranking ruling sovereign

WEAK

A number one advanced eminent first-class first-string greatest head of the line number one outstanding paramount predominant preeminent supreme top of the list top-flight

Antonyms

STRONG

auxiliary inessential inferior least minor secondary subordinate trivial unimportant unnecessary

ADVERB

at the beginning

Synonyms

STRONGEST

initially originally

WEAK

ahead at the outset before all else beforehand in the first place to begin with to start with

Antonyms

WEAK

finally last

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

As well as his Swansea ties, Evans was a winger in the first Newport line-ups after the club reformed following liquidation in 1989.

From BBC • Jun. 10, 2026

Of course, plumbing problems can be more complicated than they first appear.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 10, 2026

A hotter-than-expected CPI print for May could bolster the case for a Federal Reserve rate hike at Kevin Warsh’s first meeting as Chair next week.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 10, 2026

Because once the World Cup is done and dusted, the Nations League kicks-off in the autumn, with Portugal's first fixture after north America a home game with Wales.

From BBC • Jun. 10, 2026

Whether you're a brain surgeon or a sixth-grader, the first time you see the Brainvox image of Phineas's head with that red bar through it, you wince.

From "Phineas Gage" by John Fleischman

first

Example Sentences

Related Words