first

Pronunciation

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

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Adjective

Positive first

Comparative none

Superlative none

(ordinal number)

1. The first thing is the one that is number one (1) in order.

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

Related words and phrases

• firstly
• first of all

See also

• second
• third

Adverb

Positive first

Comparative none

Superlative none

(sentence adverb)

1. If something is first, it is before anything else.

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

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

2. Never before.

   I first went to Japan in 1994.

3. At the beginning.

   When we were first married, everything was wonderful.

Noun

Singular first

Plural firsts

1. A first is something that has not happened before.

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

Related words

• novelty
• unprecedented