First Definition
first
adverb
- 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; "he put his best foot foremost"
adjective
- 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; "the magazine's inaugural issue"; "the initiative phase in the negotiations"; "an initiatory step toward a treaty"; "his first (or maiden) speech in Congress"; "the liner's maiden voyage"
- serving to begin; "the beginning canto of the poem"; "the first verse"
- ranking above all others; "was first in her class"; "the foremost figure among marine artists"; "the top graduate"
- highest in pitch or chief among parts or voices or instruments or orchestra sections; "first soprano"; "the first violin section"; "played first horn"
noun
- 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; "they got an early start"; "she knew from the get-go that he was the man for her"
- 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
"First" in song lyrics
See how first is used in real songs:
-
"Engine, Wigs look, my son make a move first"
1.4.0. Productions f/ Cheesey Rat, Crunch Lo, Lighter Shade — God Twist -
"And if I see a cop first, dog, I'mma pop first"
1.4.0. Productions f/ Franky Botts, Othorized F.A.M. — Salute -
"Coachin but you're slouchin, you can't be first"
3rd Bass — Soul in the Hole
Words that rhyme with first
Usage tips for "first"
Understanding the precise definition of a word helps you use it with confidence. When using "first" in your writing, consider whether you need the word itself or one of its synonyms — subtle differences in meaning can change the tone of a sentence. If you're writing poetry or song lyrics, check the rhymes for first to find words that pair well.