Definition of 'first'

Noun

1. the first or highest in an ordering or series; "He wanted to be the first"
      Synonyms: number one
2. the first element in a countable series; "the first of the month"
      Synonyms: number one number 1
3. 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"
      Synonyms: beginning commencement outset get-go start kickoff starting time showtime offset
      Antonyms: middle end ending
4. 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
5. an honours degree of the highest class
      Synonyms: first-class honours degree
6. the lowest forward gear ratio in the gear box of a motor vehicle; used to start a car moving
      Synonyms: first gear low gear low

Adjective

1. preceding all others in time or space or degree; "the first house on the right"; "the first day of spring"; "his first political race"; "her first baby"; "the first time"; "the first meetings of the new party"; "the first phase of his training"
      Antonyms: last intermediate
2. indicating the beginning unit in a series
      Synonyms: 1st
3. serving to set in motion; "the magazine's inaugural issue"; "the initiative phase in the negotiations"; "an initiatory step toward a treaty"; "his first (or maiden) speech in Congress"; "the liner's maiden voyage"
      Synonyms: inaugural initiative initiatory maiden
4. serving to begin; "the beginning canto of the poem"; "the first verse"
      Synonyms: beginning
5. ranking above all others; "was first in her class"; "the foremost figure among marine artists"; "the top graduate"
      Synonyms: foremost world-class
6. highest in pitch or chief among parts or voices or instruments or orchestra sections; "first soprano"; "the first violin section"; "played first horn"
      Antonyms: second
7. being the gear producing the lowest drive speed; "use first gear on steep hills"
      Synonyms: low

Adverb

1. before anything else; "first we must consider the garter snake"
      Synonyms: firstly foremost first of all first off
2. the initial time; "when Felix first saw a garter snake"
      Synonyms: for the first time
3. before another in time, space, or importance; "I was here first"; "let's do this job first"
4. prominently forward; "he put his best foot foremost"
      Synonyms: foremost

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