first

Meanings

• the first or highest in an ordering or series
  • "He wanted to be the first"
• the first element in a countable series
  • "the first of the month"
• the time at which something is supposed to begin
• 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)
• an honours degree of the highest class
• the lowest forward gear ratio in the gear box of a motor vehicle; used to start a car moving
• 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"
• indicating the beginning unit in a series
• serving to set in motion
  • "his first (or maiden) speech in Congress"
• serving to begin
  • "the first verse"
• ranking above all others
  • "was first in her class"
• highest in pitch or chief among parts or voices or instruments or orchestra sections
  • "first soprano"
  • "the first violin section"
  • "played first horn"
• before anything else
  • "first we must consider the garter snake"
• the initial time
  • "when Felix first saw a garter snake"
• before another in time, space, or importance
  • "I was here first"
  • "let's do this job first"
• prominently forward

Synonyms

1st, beginning, commencement, first base, first gear, first of all, first off, first-class honours degree, firstly, for the first time, foremost, get-go, inaugural, initiative, initiatory, kickoff, low, low gear, maiden, number 1, number one, offset, outset, showtime, start, starting time, world-class