Synonyms for first

Noun

1. first, number one, rank

usage: the first or highest in an ordering or series; "He wanted to be the first"

2. first, number one, number 1, ordinal number, ordinal, no.

usage: the first element in a countable series; "the first of the month"

3. beginning, commencement, first, outset, get-go, start, kickoff, starting time, showtime, offset, point, point in time

usage: the time at which something is supposed to begin; "they got an early start"; "she knew from the get-go that he was the man for her"

4. first base, first, position

usage: the fielding position of the player on a baseball team who is stationed at first base

5. first, first-class honours degree, honours, honours degree

usage: an honours degree of the highest class

6. first gear, first, low gear, low, gear, gear mechanism

usage: the lowest forward gear ratio in the gear box of a motor vehicle; used to start a car moving

Adjective

1. first (vs. last) (vs. intermediate), archetypal, archetypical, prototypal, prototypic, prototypical, basic, introductory, initial, firstborn, eldest, freshman, first-year, oldest, original, premier, premiere, premier(prenominal), prime(prenominal), prime(prenominal), early, front, original, primary

usage: preceding all others in time or space or degree; "the first house on the right"; "the first day of spring"; "his first political race"; "her first baby"; "the first time"; "the first meetings of the new party"; "the first phase of his training"

2. first, 1st, ordinal (vs. cardinal)

usage: indicating the beginning unit in a series

3. inaugural, initiative, initiatory, first, maiden, opening (vs. closing)

usage: serving to set in motion; "the magazine's inaugural issue"; "the initiative phase in the negotiations"; "an initiatory step toward a treaty"; "his first (or maiden) speech in Congress"; "the liner's maiden voyage"

4. beginning(prenominal), first, opening (vs. closing)

usage: serving to begin; "the beginning canto of the poem"; "the first verse"

5. first, foremost, world-class, best (vs. worst)

usage: ranking above all others; "was first in her class"; "the foremost figure among marine artists"; "the top graduate"

6. first (vs. second)

usage: highest in pitch or chief among parts or voices or instruments or orchestra sections; "first soprano"; "the first violin section"; "played first horn"

7. first, low, forward (vs. reverse)

usage: being the gear producing the lowest drive speed; "use first gear on steep hills"

Adverb

1. first, firstly, foremost, first of all, first off

usage: before anything else; "first we must consider the garter snake"

2. first, for the first time

usage: the initial time; "when Felix first saw a garter snake"

3. first

usage: before another in time, space, or importance; "I was here first"; "let's do this job first"

4. foremost, first

usage: prominently forward; "he put his best foot foremost"