# first

Pronunciation: say "FURST" US /fɚst/, UK /fɜːst/

## Adjective

1. Coming before all others in time or order, or in the position numbered one in a series.
   - Simple: Coming before all others in time or order.
   - _Their first attempt at the recipe came out better than expected._
   - _He was the first guest to arrive at the party._
5. Highest in rank, importance, or excellence; chief or most eminent.
   - Simple: Highest in rank, or the most important of a group.
   - _As first secretary, she advised the ambassador on every major decision._
   - _Critics of the day hailed her as the first pianist of her generation._
11. Belonging to the family or household of a head of state, especially the US President, as in First Lady or First Dog.
   - Simple: Part of the family or home of a country's president or other leader.
   - _Photographers crowded the lawn to catch a glimpse of the First Dog._
   - _The First Daughter spoke at the convention on her father's behalf._

## Adverb

2. On the earliest occasion that something occurs; for the first time.
   - Simple: For the very first time that something happens or is done.
   - _She first visited Paris when she was a teenager._
   - _The disease was first identified in the early twentieth century._
3. Before anything else; ahead of all other actions or considerations.
   - Simple: Before you do or deal with anything else.
   - _First, gather all the ingredients you will need for the cake._
   - _Read the safety instructions first, then start the machine._
14. In front of all the rest, holding the top spot in a race, competition, line, or ranking.
   - Simple: Ahead of all the others, in the number one place in a race, contest, line, or ranking.
   - _The long-shot horse came in first, paying out at forty to one._
   - _Shoppers who camp out overnight stand first in line when the doors open._

## Noun

4. The person or thing occupying the position ahead of all others.
   - Simple: The one that comes before all the others in line or order.
   - _Of all the applicants, she was the first to be interviewed._
   - _He always insists on being the first into the office each morning._
6. An event or achievement that has never occurred before; a novel occurrence.
   - Simple: Something that happens or appears for the very first time.
   - _Her solo flight across the ocean marked a first in aviation history._
   - _Tasting durian was a first for everyone at the table._
7. In baseball, the first of the four bases a batter must reach, at the right corner of the infield.
   - Simple: In baseball, the base a batter must touch first after hitting the ball.
   - _The shortstop fielded the ball and threw to first for the out._
   - _He was picked off first after taking too big a lead._
8. The lowest gear in a vehicle's transmission, used for starting from a stop or climbing steep grades.
   - Simple: The lowest gear in a car or other vehicle.
   - _He dropped into first as the road grew steeper._
   - _She put the truck in first and slowly let out the clutch._
9. A copy of a publication from its earliest printing, often prized by collectors. *(colloquial)*
   - Simple: A copy of a book from its earliest printing.
   - _The dealer authenticated the volume as a genuine first._
   - _A signed first can fetch thousands at auction._
10. The top classification a British university awards for an undergraduate honors degree. *(colloquial, British)*
   - Simple: In Britain, the highest grade of bachelor's degree a student can earn.
   - _He was thrilled to come away with a first in history._
   - _Only a handful of students in her year got a first._

## Verb

12. To formally propose a new motion at a meeting, which another member must then second. *(rare)*
   - Simple: To put forward a new motion at a meeting so others can support it.

## Noun

13. Time, and in particular time allowed to someone as a grace period or as a pause for relief; respite. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: Time, especially extra time someone is given, or a short rest.

## Other meanings

- (adverb) In Hong Kong English, now: at this moment rather than later.

## Origin

**Meanings 1–12, 14** — From Middle English first, from Old English fyrest and Proto-Germanic *furistaz ("foremost, first"), the superlative of *furai, *furi ("before"), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *per- ("before; first"). It is equivalent to "fore" plus "-est," and is related to Dutch voorste, German Fürst ("prince"), and Swedish först.
**Meaning 13** — From Middle English first, from Old English fyrst ("period, space of time, respite, truce"), from Proto-Germanic *frestaz/*fristiz ("date, appointed time"), from Proto-Indo-European *per- ("forward, forth, beyond"). It is related to German Frist ("deadline, term") and Swedish frist ("deadline, respite").

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/first (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).