premier

1 of 6

adjective (1)

pre·​mier pri-ˈmir 

-ˈmyir, 

-ˈmē-ər;

ˈprē-ˌmir 

-ˌmyir, 

-ˌmē-ər, 

ˈpre-

1

: first in position, rank, or importance

the city's premier restaurant

2

: first in time : earliest

premier

2 of 6

noun (1)

: prime minister

premiership

pri-ˈmir-ˌship 

-ˈmyir-, 

-ˈmē-ər-;

ˈprē-ˌmir-, 

-ˌmyir-, 

-ˌmē-ər-, 

ˈpre-

noun

premier

3 of 6

verb (1)

pre·​mier

less common spelling of premiere entry 2

intransitive verb

1

: to have a first public performance

The movie/play will premiere next week.

2

: to appear for the first time as a star performer

He premiered in the title role on Broadway.

transitive verb

: to give a first public performance of

The movie was premiered at the film festival.

premiere

4 of 6

noun (2)

pre·​miere pri-ˈmyer  -ˈmir 

-ˈmē-ər;

ˌpri-mē-ˈer

variants or less commonly première

plural premieres also premières

1

: a first performance or exhibition

the premiere of a play

the show's premiere episode

2

: the chief actress of a theatrical cast

premiere

5 of 6

verb (2)

pre·​miere pri-ˈmyer  -ˈmir 

-ˈmē-ər;

ˌpri-mē-ˈer

variants or less commonly première or premier

premiered also premièred; premiering also premièring

intransitive verb

1

: to have a first public performance

The movie/play will premiere next week.

2

: to appear for the first time as a star performer

He premiered in the title role on Broadway.

transitive verb

: to give a first public performance of

The movie was premiered at the film festival.

premiere

6 of 6

adjective (2)

pre·​miere pri-ˈmyer  -ˈmir 

-ˈmē-ər;

ˌpri-mē-ˈer

: premier

In addition to the sporting events, Lillehammer also offers one of Norway's premiere cultural sites in the Maihaugen Open Air Museum …

—William E. Schmidt

Synonyms of premier

Adjective (1)

• first
• initial
• foremost
• inaugural
• original
• earliest
• maiden
• pioneer

Examples of premier in a Sentence

Adjective (1)

a space shuttle on its premier voyage

the premier authority on butterflies

Noun (2)

The movie will have its premiere next week.

Verb (2)

The movie premieres next week.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

It may also be remembered as the moment volleyball secured its rightful place among America's premier spectator sports. — Tim Genske, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026

To close out the night, all eyes were on the Freedom’s John Crimber, the team’s premier rider. — Ava Dicecca, Sun Sentinel, 8 Aug. 2026

Noun

The Delaware, in New Mexico and West Texas, is part of the larger Permian basin, and is one of the world’s premier basins for producing oil and gas. — Ian Dexter Palmer, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026

In the past four months, China’s foreign minister and the head of its top political advisory body met with Kim in Pyongyang, and North Korea’s premier visited China and met with Xi. — Zheng Jiyong, Foreign Affairs, 10 Aug. 2026

Verb

In 1991, he was tapped to manage the economy as a vice premier and was promoted to premier seven years later. — Cnn Staff, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2026

However, it is expected to premier in the fall of 2026. — Griff Griffin, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025

Noun

During the Mandalorian and Grogu LA premiere in May, the fan org hired a digital truck that drove around Hollywood, and again outside the El Capitan on opening night, May 21. — Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 15 Aug. 2026

Numerous model premieres kept us more distracted than usual from the concours competition itself, which is why our following list of favorites is primarily focused on what’s shiny and new. — Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 15 Aug. 2026

Verb

Directed by Jon Favreau, the film premiered in theaters May 22 and follows bounty hunter Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and his apprentice, Grogu, as they’re recruited by officer Colonel Ward (Sigourney Weaver) to aid the New Republic. — Tanya Fedak, Variety, 14 Aug. 2026

His previous films include his debut, Michael (2011), which premiered in Cannes competition, and Angelo (2018), which played in competition at San Sebastian and Toronto. — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 14 Aug. 2026

Adjective

The show’s premiere night and week two will each feature three episodes, followed by a pair of episodes releasing each Thursday leading up to the 13th and final episode on October 29. — Zack Sharf, Variety, 13 Aug. 2026

The series’ return, three-plus years after its last episode, set a premiere window viewing record for Apple TV. — Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 13 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective (1)

Middle English primer, primier "first in time, first in rank, foremost," borrowed from Anglo-French primer, premer, premyer "first, earliest, most important" (continental Old & Middle French primier, premier), going back to Latin prīmārius "of the highest importance or station (of persons), first-rate, chief" — more at primary entry 1

Note: Since its adoption in late Middle English, this word has shown influence in both pronunciation and spelling from Middle French and French premier.

Noun (1)

short for premier minister, after French premier ministre "first minister"

Noun (2)

(sense 1) borrowed from French première, short for première représentation "first performance"; (sense 2) probably noun derivative of premiere entry 3

Verb (2)

verb derivative of premiere entry 1

Adjective (2)

alteration of premier entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (1)

1707, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1889, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

1927, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Adjective (2)

1768, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing premier

• premier danseur

Rhymes for premier

• adhere
• ameer
• amir
• appear
• arrear
• astir
• austere
• career
• cashier
• cohere
• compere
• emir

Kids Definition

premier

1 of 2 adjective

pre·​mier pri-ˈm(y)i(ə)r  ˈprē-mē-ər 

ˈprem-ē-

1

: first in position, rank, or importance : principal

2

: first in time : earliest

premier

2 of 2 noun

: the chief minister of government : prime minister

premiership

-ˌship 

noun