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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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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
-
That's because the initial yield of NASA's Kepler space telescope, which discovered nearly 3,000 planets in its nine years of operation, relied on worlds transiting — passing between their star and Earth.—
Nola Taylor Tillman,
Space.com,
15 July 2025
-
But xAI’s Grok took a very different route in the initial rounds of testing.—
Hadas Gold,
CNN Money,
15 July 2025
Adjective
-
The tournament grounds feature three main retail sites: the Centre Court Shop, the No. 1 Court Shop and the Museum Shop, along with five express shops and an additional nine kiosks.—
Tim Newcomb,
Forbes.com,
16 July 2025
-
While your house's main job is to be a comfortable spot to land after a long day, there are still plenty of decorative touches throughout the home, maybe some inspired by Hallie's California-meets-western style.—
Claire Hoppe Norgaard,
Better Homes & Gardens,
15 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
-
Paul, a foremost Republican critic against Trump’s tariff policy, said the latest tariff, which Trump said would go into effect Aug. 1, could lead to a slippery slope that harms the U.S.’s economic standing and Wall Street.—
Al Weaver,
The Hill,
10 July 2025
Adverb
-
If approved, the foundation would instead use the money for the adaptive swing at Dagg Park.—
Alecia Taylor,
Kansas City Star,
19 July 2025
-
Use this guide to discover what summer habits secretly spike utility bills and what to do instead.—
Timothy Dale,
Better Homes & Gardens,
19 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
-
The majestic Brazilian played for them between 1975 and 1977, back when soccer in the United States was rather experimental.—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
11 July 2025
Adjective
-
Soon South Milwaukee will be filled with sasquatch calls – or at least what locals think a sasquatch call sounds like – during a contest at the inaugural Samtemberfest, Sat.—
Erik S. Hanley,
jsonline.com,
23 July 2025
-
Lizzie Shapiro wins inaugural Janet Pierson Champion Award, named after longtime SXSW Film director.—
Michael Barnes,
Austin American Statesman,
23 July 2025
Adjective
-
One of the chief goals of the community survey is to achieve representative samples from all areas of the city, so library leadership can better understand the specific needs of the people of the city.—
John Warner,
Chicago Tribune,
19 July 2025
-
The drama began on Wednesday when a jumbotron at a Coldplay concert in Foxborough, Massachusetts, captured Byron hugging Cabot, Astronomer's chief people officer, from behind.—
Hannah Parry
Joshua Rhett Miller,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 July 2025
Adverb
-
Automate Early Contributions To Maximize Long-Term Growth The most important strategy for saving for children's college funds is to set up an automatic savings plan as soon as possible, preferably when they're born so that funds are automatically deposited into an investment account.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
10 July 2025
-
Again, that’s why the film isn’t explicit – teenagers can see it, preferably with their parents.—
Marta Balaga,
Variety,
6 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“First.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/first. Accessed 25 Jul. 2025.
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