1
as in initial
coming before all others in time or order
the much-studied first—and last—voyage of the Titanic
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in main
coming before all others in importance
there are a number of reasons we can't go, but the first is that we don't have the money
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in foremost
highest in rank or authority
auditioned and got first clarinet in the band
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in instead
as a substitute
eat peas? I'd eat cockroaches first
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in rather
by choice or preference
we will not give in, but will fight for our freedom first
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of first
Kansas City Star, 11 July 2025
This is not the first time the council has approved increasing ticket prices.
—Jasmine Mendez, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2025
Trent Reinsmith, Forbes.com, 12 July 2025
Instead of aiming for Pinterest perfection, focus first on storing things to be accessible and tailored to your lifestyle.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for first
Adjective
Estévez, 32, has shined in his first season with the Royals.
—Kansas City Star, 11 July 2025
This is not the first time the council has approved increasing ticket prices.
—Jasmine Mendez, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2025
Adverb
Daniel Dubois 2 Usyk (23-0 with 14 knockouts) and Dubois (22-2 with 21 KOs) first faced off in August 2023.
—Trent Reinsmith, Forbes.com, 12 July 2025
Instead of aiming for Pinterest perfection, focus first on storing things to be accessible and tailored to your lifestyle.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for first
Recent Examples of Synonyms for first
Adjective
-
Phishing Email Detection And Response Phishing remains the most common initial attack vector.—
Karan Alang,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2025
-
Scientists defined daytime napping as sleeping between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. After the initial study, researchers kept tabs on the participants for eight years and discovered that 5,189 (6.0%) of them died during that time period.—
Khloe Quill,
FOXNews.com,
1 July 2025
Adjective
-
Meander along the Big Bend Scenic Byway and stop along main streets and pull-offs that look interesting.—
Kelsey Glennon,
Southern Living,
6 July 2025
-
The project’s data goes through June 10, and only includes administrative immigration arrests made by ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations, or ERO, the agency’s main arm that enforces immigration policy.—
Alexandra Mendoza,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 July 2025
Adjective
-
First launched in 1985, FIBO has become one of the earth’s foremost fitness and wellness-focused trade shows, with roughly 130,000 participants set to convene in Cologne, Germany in April 2026.—
Jared Ranahan,
Forbes.com,
11 July 2025
-
Ziegler, one of the world’s foremost experts on the history and law of reproductive rights in the U.S., draws on decades of scholarship.—
David L. Coddon,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 July 2025
Adverb
-
But the plan got delayed and then scrapped, with the city instead opting to build The Canopy, a gathering space including parking spaces and walking paths set to open in 2027.—
Zoey Thomas,
The Orlando Sentinel,
7 July 2025
-
These behaviors are not explicitly programmed but instead emerge as a result of the model’s interaction with the reinforcement learning environment.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
7 July 2025
Adverb
-
With a net elevation decrease of just over 1,310 m (about 4,300 ft) throughout the drive, the EV most certainly benefited from regenerative braking, a rather useful feature that turns downhill momentum back into battery power.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
12 July 2025
-
His views on the current state of cinema are rather depressing.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
11 July 2025
Adjective
-
The banner’s inaugural project, Magic City: An American Fantasy, will debut on Starz.—
Mia Galuppo,
HollywoodReporter,
9 July 2025
-
Technology, sustainability and the power of human connection were at the center of a lively debate on the future of travel at Newsweek's inaugural New Destinations Travel & Tourism Summit last week.—
Soo Kim,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 July 2025
Adjective
-
In a new Fortune opinion piece, Marco Argenti, Goldman’s chief information officer, argues that companies should empower young professionals with AI skills to help shape strategy.—
Sheryl Estrada,
Fortune,
7 July 2025
-
Stephanie Martz, the NRF’s chief administrative officer and general counsel, said the lawsuit infringes on retailers’ rights.—
Meghan Hall,
Sourcing Journal,
7 July 2025
Adverb
-
Prepare a planting bed at least 5 to 6 feet (preferably 10 feet) in diameter and cultivate it to a depth of 10 to 12 inches.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
28 June 2025
-
What scientists really want is a way to make their own eclipses on demand – preferably ones that can last for hours and are outside the Earth's atmosphere.—
David Szondy
June 28,
New Atlas,
28 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“First.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/first. Accessed 17 Jul. 2025.
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