adverb before anything else.
— synonyms: firstly, foremost, first_of_all, first_off
adverb the initial time.
adverb before another in time, space, or importance.
adverb prominently forward.
— synonyms: foremost
adjective preceding all others in time or space or degree.
adjective indicating the beginning unit in a series.
— synonyms: 1st
adjective serving to set in motion.
— synonyms: inaugural, initiative, initiatory, maiden
adjective serving to begin.
— synonyms: beginning(a)
adjective ranking above all others.
— synonyms: foremost, world-class
adjective highest in pitch or chief among parts or voices or instruments or orchestra sections.
noun the first or highest in an ordering or series.
— synonyms: number_one
noun the first element in a countable series.
— synonyms: number_one, number_1
noun the time at which something is supposed to begin.
— synonyms: beginning, commencement, outset, get-go, start, kickoff, starting_time, showtime
noun 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).
— synonyms: first_base
noun an honours degree of the highest class.
— synonyms: first-class_honours_degree
noun the lowest forward gear ratio in the gear box of a motor vehicle.
— synonyms: first_gear, low_gear, low
Examples
“He was the first to complete the course.”
“This is a first. For once he has nothing to say.”