first

Universal Words determiner, ordinal number, adverb, noun determiner , ordinal number 1 happening or coming before all other similar things or people; 1st: his first wife * It was the first time they had ever met. * I didn't take the first bus. * students in their first year at college * your first impressions * She resolved to do it at the first (= earliest) opportunity. * King Edward I (= said as 'King Edward the First') 2 the most important or best: Your first duty is to your family. * She won first prize in the competition. * an issue of the first importance IDIOMS see ORDERn. adverb 1 before anyone or anything else; at the beginning: 'Do you want a drink?' 'I'll finish my work first.' * First I had to decide what to wear. * Who came first in the race (= who won)? * It plunged nose first into the river. 2 for the first time: When did you first meet him? 3 used to introduce the first of a list of points you want to make in a speech or piece of writing SYNFIRSTLY: This method has two advantages: first it is cheaper and secondly it is quicker. 4 used to emphasize that you are determined not to do sth: She swore that she wouldn't apologize-she'd die first! IDIOMS at first at or in the beginning: I didn't like the job much at first. * At first I thought he was shy, but then I discovered he was just not interested in other people. * (saying) If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. -< FIRSTLY come first to be considered more important than anything else: In any decision she makes, her family always comes first. first and foremost more than anything else: He does a little teaching, but first and foremost he's a writer. first and last in every way that is important; completely: She regarded herself, first and last, as a musician. first come, first served (saying) people will be dealt with, seen, etc. strictly in the order in which they arrive: Tickets are available on a first come, first served basis. first of all 1 before doing anything else; at the beginning: First of all, let me ask you something. 2 as the most important thing: The content of any article needs, first of all, to be relevant to the reader. -> FIRSTLY first off (informal, especially BrE) before anything else: First off, let's see how much it'll cost. first up (BrE, informal) to start with; before anything else put sb/sth first to consider sb/sth to be more important than anyone/anything else: She always puts her children first. moreatHEADn., SAFETY noun 1 (the first) [C] (plural the first) the first person or thing mentioned; the first person or thing to do a particular thing: I was the first in my family to go to college. * Sheila and Jim were the first to arrive. * I'd be the first to admit (= I will most willingly admit) I might be wrong. * The first I heard about the wedding (= the first time I became aware of it) was when I saw it in the local paper. 2 [C,usually sing.] an achievement, event, etc., never done or experienced before: We went on a cruise, a first for both of us. 3 (also first gear) [U] the lowest GEAR on a car, bicycle, etc. that you use when you are moving slowly: He stuck the car in first and revved. 4 [C] ~ (in sth) the highest level of university degree at British universities: She got a first in maths at Exeter. compareSECOND, THIRD IDIOMS first among equals the person or thing with the highest status in a group from the (very) first from the beginning: They were attracted to each other from the first. from first to last from beginning to end; during the whole time: It's a fine performance that commands attention from first to last.