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number one

adjective

variants also No. 1
Definition of number onenext
1
as in main
coming before all others in importance considers international terrorism to be the number one threat to national security

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in excellent
of the very best kind the company's chocolate is rated as number one by serious chocoholics

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of number one Talked about number one in the country a year ago and some of our championships. — Tom Green | [email protected], al, 15 Mar. 2023 And North Carolina, last year's runner up and this year's preseason number one, missed out entirely. — Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 13 Mar. 2023 Depositors and workers in the companies whose deposits are in that bank need to be job number one. — CBS News, 12 Mar. 2023 The number one priority in those situations is the health of the player. — Dalton Ross, EW.com, 2 Mar. 2023 See All Example Sentences for number one
Recent Examples of Synonyms for number one
  1. main
  2. excellent
  3. primary
  4. great
  5. predominant
  6. wonderful
  7. foremost
  8. terrific
Adjective
  • Construction of the project’s main underground access portal began in February 2026.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 27 Sep. 2026
  • This, Rostov’s main thoroughfare, wasn’t illuminated by the familiar bright glare of its many street lamps, or by light from its windows, now blacked out, but emerged from the darkness all the more gently in a milky cloak of moonlight.
    — Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, New Yorker, 27 Sep. 2026
Definition of main
Adjective
  • Longbridge is an excellent option, especially for those looking to save money.
    — Liz Knueven,Kelsey Neubauer, CNBC, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Pricing for the conversion starts at 100,000 euros, or roughly $113,670, but does not include the donor 944, which runs around $60,000 in excellent condition, according to Hagerty.
    — Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of excellent
Adjective
  • Orbit is Flight 14’s primary focus, and only by achieving that milestone can SpaceX move on to clear the rocket’s remaining hurdles.
    — Josh Dinner, Space.com, 26 Sep. 2026
  • The primary bedroom overlooks the High Line, with an en-suite bathroom that has a separate soaking tub and glass shower stall.
    — Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of primary
Adjective
  • Located 30 miles northeast of Atlanta, the community of around 30,000 is home to a walkable, historic downtown populated with local boutiques and businesses; a legendary theatre; and lots of great restaurants.
    — Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 27 Sep. 2026
  • Apple Apple's done great work to promote its Music streaming service by showcasing fantastic artists over the years.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 27 Sep. 2026
Definition of great
Adjective
  • Through the year 2027, architecture convergence will remain predominant, meaning centralized computing, zonal designs, maturing OTA functionality, shareable and reusable software platforms and stronger hardware/software modularity.
    — Rajjie Sarmey, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026
  • The exterior is clad in glass and limestone that reflects the predominant materials on Northwestern’s nearby campus.
    — Edward Keegan, Chicago Tribune, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of predominant
Adjective
  • Guests have access to the wonderful 18-hole course next door.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Sep. 2026
  • With the Moon in your sign opposing Venus in your partnership zone, affection could feel wonderful one minute and intrusive the next.
    — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of wonderful
Adjective
  • Founded in 1937, the Fashion Scholarship Fund is the fashion industry’s foremost education and workforce development nonprofit.
    — Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Making the roster more functional will be the foremost objective for whomever Crane chooses to replace Brown.
    — Chandler Rome, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of foremost
Adjective
  • So Kelce reported to camp in terrific shape and looking svelte and nimble despite all the hoopla, especially around the wedding.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Our present condition is deplorable on account of a terrific burden of unemployment caused by overproduction.
    — J. B. MacKinnon, Harpers Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of terrific

Browse Nearby Words

numberless
number one
numbers
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Number one.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/number%20one. Accessed 1 Oct. 2026.

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