first

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA ^(key): /fɜːst/, SAMPA: /f3:st/
• (US) IPA ^(key): /fɝst/, SAMPA: /f3`st/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Adjective

Positive first

Comparative none

Superlative none

1. (ordinal number) Happening or coming before all other similar things or people.

   First (of all), I should say that we're happy to see you all here today.

   First off, let's see how much it'll cost.

   I don't like the job much at first.

   She always puts her children first.

   He does a little teaching, but first and foremost he's a writer.

   I have no older brothers. I was the first child.

2. The most important or best.

   Your first duty is to your family.

Related words and phrases

• firstly
• first of all
• primary

See also

• zeroth
• second

Adverb

Positive first

Comparative none

Superlative none

1. Before anyone/anything else.

   He was the fastest in class and usually finished everything first.

2. For the first time.

   I first went to Japan in 1994.

3. At first.

   When we were first married, everything was wonderful.

Noun

Singular first

Plural firsts

1. (countable) A first is something that has not happened before.

   A dog walking on stilts? Well, that is a first.

Related words

• novelty
• unprecedented