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
Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 28 Jan. 2026
Futures markets expect two quarter-point interest rate cuts this year, forecasting the first in June and a second in the fall, according to CME FedWatch Tool, a measure of market sentiment.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 28 Jan. 2026
Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
At first, the corporal was very convincing.
—Literary Hub, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for first
Adjective
Rih was also among the first to wear the even fresher Dior couture—kind of, wearing bunches of white and magenta cyclamen in her hair.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 28 Jan. 2026
Futures markets expect two quarter-point interest rate cuts this year, forecasting the first in June and a second in the fall, according to CME FedWatch Tool, a measure of market sentiment.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 28 Jan. 2026
Adverb
The sturdy grooved leaves seem tough at first but, like your back after a trip to the chiropractor, relax and open up once they’re heartily massaged.
—Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
At first, the corporal was very convincing.
—Literary Hub, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for first
Recent Examples of Synonyms for first
Adjective
-
These two agents appear to be the two officers identified as the shooters in an initial report by the Department of Homeland Security about the incident.—
Yahya Abou-Ghazala,
CNN Money,
30 Jan. 2026
-
During an initial court appearance Thursday, a judge granted the government's request to detain Kazmierczak pending a detention hearing Tuesday.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Sami Zayn won a Fatal 4-Way main event for the right to face Drew McIntyre for the WWE Championship at the Royal Rumble in Saudi Arabia.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
25 Jan. 2026
-
This could happen especially with more hilly routes or ones not near main roads.—
Chilekasi Adele,
CBS News,
25 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Live and Let Die also notably broke the color barrier, with Bond’s relationship with a Black woman, Rosie Carver (Gloria Hendry), being among the foremost mainstream films to feature an interracial romance.—
Sezin Devi Koehler,
Entertainment Weekly,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Even now the Schrödinger equation remains physicists’ foremost window into the quantum realm.—
Joseph Howlett,
Scientific American,
27 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
Ripley and Sky’s big victory reportedly doesn’t factor into WrestleMania 42 title plans, with Ripley instead set for a blockbuster singles match of some sorts.—
Blake Oestriecher,
Forbes.com,
25 Jan. 2026
-
The singer was not on the plane, and instead was scheduled to leave San Diego the next morning.—
Lori A Bashian,
FOXNews.com,
25 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
Several right-wing social media figures and conservative commentators have also shared the video and suggested that Pretti was not an innocent bystander, but rather someone who was deliberately seeking confrontation.—
Siladitya Ray,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Jordan Brand‘s first basketball sneaker designed specifically for women didn’t come two years ago with the launch of the Heir, but rather way back in 1998 with the Air Jordan OG.—
Ian Servantes,
Footwear News,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The Perspectives section was launched last year, at the inaugural edition of artistic director Tricia Tuttle, who joined the Berlinale after a decade spent at the BFI London Film Festival.—
Ellise Shafer,
Variety,
29 Jan. 2026
-
The 2023 lineup included Maroon 5 and Walker Hayes, while the inaugural Concert in the Coliseum in 2022 was headlined by Thomas Rhett and Old Dominion.—
Ed Masley,
AZCentral.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
This double standard exists in large part because, from a regulatory standpoint, pregnancy itself is considered a health risk, according to Logan Nickels, chief research officer at the Male Contraceptive Initiative, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing nonhormonal male birth control.—
Ana Castelain,
Bloomberg,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Bovino joined the Border Patrol in 1996 and was named chief patrol agent of the El Centro Sector of Southern California in 2020, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
28 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
Place 3 large eggs, beaten to blend, 1½ cups fine dry breadcrumbs, preferably seasoned or Italian-style, and 1 cup all-purpose flour in 3 separate shallow bowls.—
Chris Morocco,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
-
For weeks in this space, the thought — through no fault of their own — was to swap out Powell and Andrew Wiggins for draft capital, to either further fuel the youth pipeline or to amass and then package picks in a trade for a potential leading man (preferably a Greek leading man).—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
24 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“First.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/first. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
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