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
Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 3 Oct. 2025
For those of us who have loved Carmen Maura since the first of her seven features with Pedro Almodóvar 45 years ago, watching her expressive face in Calle Málaga is its own wondrous reward.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 3 Oct. 2025
Greg Palkot, FOXNews.com, 14 Oct. 2025
The Daily Mail, which first reported the story, says that staff have started moving in belongings.
—Simon Perry, PEOPLE, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for first
Adjective
In its first meeting, for instance, Kennedy’s ACIP voted to remove recommendations for flu vaccines that contain the preservative thimerosal, following the counsel of an anti-vaccine activist.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 3 Oct. 2025
For those of us who have loved Carmen Maura since the first of her seven features with Pedro Almodóvar 45 years ago, watching her expressive face in Calle Málaga is its own wondrous reward.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 3 Oct. 2025
Adverb
Amateur video showed her exultation upon first seeing Omri being transferred to the IDF helicopter.
—Greg Palkot, FOXNews.com, 14 Oct. 2025
The Daily Mail, which first reported the story, says that staff have started moving in belongings.
—Simon Perry, PEOPLE, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for first
Recent Examples of Synonyms for first
Adjective
-
With more than 600 million copies of the books sold worldwide, and everything related to them continuing to do well years after the initial release of the books, one wonders how this series remains popular despite the deluge of young adult novels (and controversy) that followed it.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
12 Oct. 2025
-
In an email, Uber said Rinderknecht passed his initial background check in 2023.—
Eric Levenson,
CNN Money,
11 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Howl at hootenanny Ozark Natural Science Center presents the annual Bear Hollow Hootenanny fundraiser Saturday and Sunday at the center's main campus north of Huntsville adjacent to the Madison County Wildlife Management Area.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Oct. 2025
-
D’Angelo wrote, arranged, and performed almost the entire album album by himself, with some additional contributions coming from Saadiq, Q-Tip, and his main collaborator, A Tribe Called Quest’s go-to engineer Bob Power.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
One of Germany’s foremost creative voices, Hess was the recipient of Deadline’s first-ever German TV Disruptor accolade in 2024.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
8 Oct. 2025
-
And that’s a monstrous problem for a team built around a staff that is now missing its foremost top-of-the-rotation force, in Zack Wheeler.—
Jayson Stark,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
Adverb
-
Jeong says that Mad About Seafood is far from just a whistle-stop tour of Korea’s culinary highlights, but instead, an in-depth program about culture and heritage that also provided space for Lee to share more about his identity as a Korean-American.—
Sara Merican,
Deadline,
13 Oct. 2025
-
The Life of a Showgirl, produced and written by the singer herself along with hitmakers Max Martin and Shellback, was thought to be a return to some of her most standard pop albums, like 1989, but instead leaned more towards a mix of Evermore and Midnights.—
Nicole Fell,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Oct. 2025
Adverb
-
On the left wing, Charlton selects a rather more famous winger, Paco Gento.—
Michael Walker,
New York Times,
11 Oct. 2025
-
Stephen Frears’s Gothic drama is, to be fair, rather watchable — atmospheric and melancholic, with John Malkovich clearly getting a kick out of chewing any and all available scenery.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Building community was the theme of Folsom Family Pride, an inaugural celebration of the LGBTQ+ community held Saturday at Folsom City Lions Park.—
JOSÉ LUIS VILLEGAS,
Sacbee.com,
11 Oct. 2025
-
The experience was part of the inaugural Antigua and Barbuda Culinary Month, an exciting extension of the island’s culinary series which began in 2023.—
Essence,
Essence,
11 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
His death comes shortly after a report from the chief inspector of prisons highlighted a sharp rise in violence at HMP Wakefield, according to the BBC.—
Mitchell Peters,
Billboard,
12 Oct. 2025
-
The Taliban government's chief spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said Afghan forces have captured 25 Pakistani army posts, 58 soldiers have been killed, and 30 others wounded.—
NPR,
NPR,
12 Oct. 2025
Adverb
-
The Wolverines need to get pressure on Jayden Maiava, preferably without sending a lot of extra pass rushers.—
Austin Meek,
New York Times,
10 Oct. 2025
-
Stay warm and wrap up in something ultra-soft and, preferably, lined in plush fleece—Lake Pajamas makes a shawl-collar mini that fits the bill.—
Elly Leavitt,
Vogue,
9 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“First.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/first. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.
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