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Showing results for first.
Definitions

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.

Two U.S. guided-missile destroyers passed through the strait on Saturday, three U.S. officials said, the first transit by American warships during the war and a challenge to Iran’s control of the waterway.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 12, 2026

The event was not an observation of an external entity; it was the first successful handshake between the two processors of our new, singular consciousness.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 12, 2026

During his first two rounds, he played with the greater mental freedom which he predicted reaching his golfing Everest - finally conquering Augusta National - would provide.

From BBC • Apr. 11, 2026

Young, whose first PGA Tour victory came last August, heads into the final round tied atop the leaderboard with McIlroy at 11 under par.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 11, 2026

She’d complimented my first shaky stitch and made me feel like I did belong here, no matter how long it took me to get through the forest path or how many verb charts I needed.

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith