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first

det. · adv. · n. · adj.
US //ˈfɝst// UK //fˈɜːst// first
  1. 1 before all others (det.)
    A1 Beginner

    the person or thing that comes before everyone or everything else.

    denoting the person or thing that precedes all others in a series, sequence, or chronological order.

    Example

    She was the first person to arrive at the party on Saturday night.

    Example

    The first chapter of the novel establishes a sense of unease that persists throughout the entire narrative.

    Usage

    Usually placed before a noun and often preceded by 'the'.
  2. 2 before anything else (adv.)
    A1 Beginner

    used to say that something happens before other things.

    occurring before any other event or action in time or priority.

    Example

    First, you need to wash your hands before you start cooking.

    Example

    First, the researchers gathered data from several independent sources to ensure the study's validity.

    Usage

    Often used as a sentence starter to sequence events.
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  1. 3 for the first time (adv.)
    A2 Elementary

    used when you do something that you have never done before.

    on the initial occasion of an occurrence or experience.

    Example

    I first met my best friend when we were both five years old.

    Example

    The species was first documented by European explorers during an expedition in the late eighteenth century.
  2. 4 a new occurrence (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    something that has never happened before.

    an event or achievement that is the first of its kind.

    Example

    This snowy weather is a first for this part of the country.

    Example

    The successful landing on the asteroid was a historic first for the international space agency.
  3. 5 lowest gear (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    the gear you use in a car or bike to start moving.

    the lowest transmission gear in a motor vehicle, providing maximum torque for starting from a standstill.

    Example

    You should shift into first gear when you are stopped at a red light.

    Example

    The driver struggled to engage first as the car stalled on the steep incline of the mountain pass.
    • low gear
  4. 6 top university grade (n.)
    C1 Advanced British English Informal

    the highest possible grade for a university degree in the UK.

    a first-class honours degree, representing the highest level of undergraduate achievement in the British university system.

    Example

    He was delighted to find out he had earned a first in history.

    Example

    Securing a first from such a prestigious institution significantly improved her prospects in the competitive job market.

    Teacher's tip

    This is specific to the UK education system; American students would refer to a high GPA or graduating 'summa cum laude'.
    • first class degree
  5. 7 most important (adj.)
    B1 Intermediate

    the most important or highest in rank.

    foremost in importance, rank, or quality.

    Example

    Safety is our first priority when we design new cars.

    Example

    The diplomat's first duty was to ensure the safety of the citizens living abroad during the crisis.
Etymology 1

From Middle English first, furst, ferst, fyrst, from Old English fyrest, from Proto-West Germanic furist, from Proto-Germanic furistaz (“first, foremost”), superlative of Proto-Germanic furai, furi (“before”), from Proto-Indo-European preh₂- (“before”), from per- (“before; first”), equivalent to fore + -est. Cognates Cognate with Scots first (“first”), Dutch voorste (“foremost, first”), vorst (“prince”), German Fürst (“chief, prince”, literally “first (born)”), Limburgish Vürsch (“prince”), Luxembourgish viischt (“anterior; forward”), Vilamovian fiyśt, fjəšt, fjyśt, fjyšt (“prince”), Danish and Norwegian Bokmål først (“first”), Faroese and Icelandic fyrstur (“first”), Norwegian Nynorsk fyrst, først (“first”), Swedish först (“first”); also Latin prīnceps (“first, foremost; chief”), Greek παρ’ (par’), παρά (pará, “despite; less”), Mycenaean Greek 𐀞𐀫 (pa-ro, “from”), Albanian parë (“first; chief, main”), Latgalian pyrmais (“first”), Latvian pirmais (“first; foremost”), Lithuanian pirmas (“first; primary”), Bulgarian пъ́рви (pǎ́rvi), пръ́в (prǎ́v, “first”), Czech and Slovak prvý (“first”), Macedonian прв (prv), први (prvi, “first”), Polish piersy, pierwszy, pirszy (“first”), Russian пе́рвый (pérvyj, “first”), Serbo-Croatian пр̑вӣ, pȓvī (“first”), Slovene prvi (“first”), Armenian հարավ (harav, “south”), Avestan 𐬞𐬀𐬎𐬭𐬎𐬎𐬀 (paᵘruua, “before, first”), Tocharian A pärwat (“first”), Tocharian B parwe (“first”), Sanskrit पूर्व (pūrva, “before”).

Etymology 2

From Middle English first, furst, fyrst, from Old English fyrst, fierst, first (“period, space of time, time, respite, truce”), from Proto-Germanic frestaz, fristiz, frestą (“date, appointed time”), from Proto-Indo-European pres-, *per- (“forward, forth, over, beyond”). Cognate with North Frisian ferst, frest (“period, time”), German Frist (“period, deadline, term”), Swedish frist (“deadline, respite, reprieve, time-limit”), Icelandic frestur (“period”). See also frist.

Word family
Idioms22 entries

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