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
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Recent Examples of first
Tasha Robinson,
Vulture,
30 June 2026
In his 17th start of the year, Imanaga recorded his first outing without surrendering a walk or home run.
—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
30 June 2026
Pete Sweeney,
Kansas City Star,
23 June 2026
May went 64-13 at Michigan and guided the Wolverines to their second national title in program history and first since 1989.
—
Paula Wethington,
CBS News,
22 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for first
Adjective
Vic makes some baffling choices here, buzzing in twice on the first word in the series without hearing the rest, and getting eliminated from multiple rounds five seconds in.
—
Tasha Robinson,
Vulture,
30 June 2026
In his 17th start of the year, Imanaga recorded his first outing without surrendering a walk or home run.
—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
30 June 2026
Adverb
Pline, 26, first entered the league as an undrafted free agent with the San Francisco 49ers following the 2024 NFL Draft.
—
Pete Sweeney,
Kansas City Star,
23 June 2026
May went 64-13 at Michigan and guided the Wolverines to their second national title in program history and first since 1989.
—
Paula Wethington,
CBS News,
22 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for first
Recent Examples of Synonyms for first
Adjective
-
The heads of the California Business Roundtable, California Taxpayers Association and California Business Properties Association — all supporters of the initial Local Taxpayer Protection Act—issued a statement praising the compromise agreement.
-
Medi-Cal coverage of immigrants without legal status costs the state roughly $10 billion a year, according to California’s nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office, more than double the initial estimates.
Adjective
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Because Swift has no docking ports or grappling fixtures to grab onto, Katalyst built its 880-pound, 5-foot tall LINK spacecraft with a custom robotic capture mechanism that will attach to a feature on the satellite’s main structure.
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One of the festival’s main attractions is the FIFA store, an 8,000-square-foot indoor facility on the east side of the grounds.
Adjective
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This decision was made with the best interests of our students and families as the foremost priority, ensuring that Chartiers Valley students continue to receive safe, reliable, and consistent transportation to and from school.
-
Kuperwasser, who served in the Israeli military for 35 years, believes that Hezbollah’s foremost goal is to return to the south along with the civilian population, a possibility repeatedly ruled out by Israel’s high command.
Adverb
-
District officials declined to provide the correspondence with Carvalho, instead assigning the request to the district’s Public Records Act unit, where some requests for records have taken years to resolve.
-
However, scientists and officials said no seeding occurred during the storm, and pointed instead to natural weather systems and climate change.
Adverb
-
Riff argued the issue to halt the payout was not a legal battle but rather a political one.
-
In a dissenting opinion by Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, joined by Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Jackson argued the case is not about gun rights, but rather property rights, since there is no constitutional right to enter private property without permission.
Adjective
-
The inaugural class includes 19 recruits.
-
The inaugural Laugh List is being set by a voting body of leading feature comedy executives from many of the industry’s most active comedy production companies.
Adjective
-
Roughly two-thirds of American households own their primary residence, according to the Federal Survey of Consumer Finances from 2022, the most recent edition.
-
The capacity of the primary viewing area at the Washington Monument is set at about 150,000, according to Secret Service Special Agent in Charge David Yamen, who runs the agency's dignitary protective division.
Adjective
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He's partnered with Ridge (the maker of high-tech wallets, power banks and phone cases), serving as its chief creative partner and releasing a brand collection of chargers, suitcases and keychains.
-
Former South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) investigator Ryan Kelly was fired from his position as chief inspector for the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office on June 8, the agency confirmed to Fox News Digital.
Cite this Entry
“First.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/first. Accessed 1 Jul. 2026.
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