# first

/ˈfɝst/ (US) · /fˈɜːst/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/first
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. before all others

determiner · CEFR A1

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

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

- She was the first person to arrive at the party on Saturday night.
- 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. before anything else

adverb · CEFR A1

used to say that something happens before other things.

For teachers: occurring before any other event or action in time or priority.

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

### 3. for the first time

adverb · CEFR A2

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

For teachers: on the initial occasion of an occurrence or experience.

- I first met my best friend when we were both five years old.
- The species was first documented by European explorers during an expedition in the late eighteenth century.

### 4. a new occurrence

noun · CEFR B1

something that has never happened before.

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

- This snowy weather is a first for this part of the country.
- The successful landing on the asteroid was a historic first for the international space agency.

### 5. lowest gear

noun · CEFR B1

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

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

- You should shift into first gear when you are stopped at a red light.
- The driver struggled to engage first as the car stalled on the steep incline of the mountain pass.

### 6. top university grade

noun · CEFR C1 · British English · Informal

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

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

- He was delighted to find out he had earned a first in history.
- Securing a first from such a prestigious institution significantly improved her prospects in the competitive job market.

Teaching tip: This is specific to the UK education system; American students would refer to a high GPA or graduating 'summa cum laude'.

### 7. most important

adjective · CEFR B1

the most important or highest in rank.

For teachers: foremost in importance, rank, or quality.

- Safety is our first priority when we design new cars.
- The diplomat's first duty was to ensure the safety of the citizens living abroad during the crisis.

## Examples

- First, open the book to page one.
- To make the recipe, first chop the onions, and then heat the oil in a pan.
- The report recommended that the company first stabilize its cash flow before attempting any ambitious expansion into new markets.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.