being before all others with respect to time, order, rank, importance, etc., used as the ordinal number of one

the first edition; the first vice president.

Music . highest or chief among several voices or instruments of the same class

first alto; first horn.

Automotive . low ( def. 31 ) .

( often initial capital letter ) being a member of the household or an intimate acquaintance of the president of the U.S. or of the governor of a state

the First Lady; Checkers, the first dog.

before all others or anything else in time, order, rank, etc.

before some other thing, event, etc.

If you're going, phone first.

for the first time

She first visited Atlanta in 1980.

in preference to something else; rather; sooner

I'd die first.

in the first place; firstly.

the person or thing that is first in time, order, rank, etc.

the beginning.

the first part; first member of a series.

Music .

the voice or instrument that takes the highest or chief part in its class, esp. in an orchestra or chorus.

a leader of a part or group of performers.

Automotive . low gear; first gear

She shifted into first and drove off.

the winning position or rank in a race or other competition.

Baseball . first base.

Usually, firsts. Commerce .

a product or goods of the first or highest quality.

goods produced according to specifications, without visible flaws. Compare second 1 ( def. 23 ) , third ( def. 12 ) .

British University .

first-class honors. Compare class ( def. 18 ) .

a person who has won such honors. ?

first and last

everything considered; above all else; altogether

First and last, it is important to know oneself.

first off

Informal . at the outset; immediately

He wanted to know first off why he hadn't been notified.

first thing

before anything else; at once; promptly

I'll call you first thing when I arrive.

adjective

final , last , least

adverb

finally , last

adjective

aboriginal , ahead , antecedent , anterior , basic , beginning , cardinal , early , elementary , first off * , front , fundamental , head , headmost , inaugural , inceptive , incipient , initial , in the beginning , introductory , key , leading , lead off * , least , number one , numero uno , opening , original , pioneer , premier , primary , prime , primeval , primitive , primogenial , primordial , pristine , right up front , rudimentary , slightest , smallest , advanced , a-number-1 , arch , champion , chief , dominant , eminent , first-class , first-string , foremost , greatest , head of the line , main , outstanding , paramount , predominant , preeminent , primo , principal , ranking , ruling , sovereign , supreme , top-flight , top of the list , earliest , maiden , capital , major , top , ab ovo , embryonic , germinal , inchoate , indigenous , initiatory , nascent , prima facie , primal , rudimental , seminal

adverb

at the outset , before all else , beforehand , initially , in the first place , originally , to begin with , to start with , aboriginal , ahead , alpha , archetypal , beginning , chief , debut , earliest , eldest , foremost , fundamental , head , high , highest , initial , leading , maiden , main , onset , original , premier , primal , primarily , primary , prime , primeval , primitive , primordial , principal , unveiling