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
Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 19 Apr. 2025
The Mavs do have a first round draft selection in the upcoming NBA Draft, which will be in the lottery.
—Mac Engel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Apr. 2025
Max Levy, Denver Post, 19 Apr. 2025
Researchers first documented the inscriptions using multispectral photography and Reflectance Transformation Imaging (RTI), before analyzing the images in a lab.
—Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 19 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for first
Adjective
The first baseman, playing in, then got Caballero in a rundown.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 19 Apr. 2025
The Mavs do have a first round draft selection in the upcoming NBA Draft, which will be in the lottery.
—Mac Engel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Apr. 2025
Adverb
Adams County sheriff’s deputies first responded to a call for service at the home of Jason Stanfield-Parker, 33, in August, according to court documents and Aurora Police Department disciplinary records requested by the Post.
—Max Levy, Denver Post, 19 Apr. 2025
Researchers first documented the inscriptions using multispectral photography and Reflectance Transformation Imaging (RTI), before analyzing the images in a lab.
—Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 19 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for first
Recent Examples of Synonyms for first
Adjective
-
To get a more complete picture of the impact of Trump’s initial tariff policies on the sporting goods and apparel industry, Sportico obtained a list of suppliers for 11 major companies that share their facilities on the platform Open Supply Hub.—
Lev Akabas,
Sportico.com,
10 Apr. 2025
-
Clark made the initial comments in her interview in December with Time Magazine and refreshed those remarks in her interview with comedian David Letterman.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Boseman, who died in 2020 at age 43, was completely committed to his main character of T'Challa in the Marvel movie about the advanced kingdom of Wakanda, Coogler recalled on a recent episode of Power 105.1 FM's The Breakfast Club.—
Raechal Shewfelt,
EW.com,
10 Apr. 2025
-
The 9a's main camera takes 12MP images thanks to pixel binning, and the resulting shots are nearly identical to the Pixel 9 Pro's.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The Iranians are responding to several inducements, foremost among them the staggering array of forces the United States has prepositioned in the Middle East.—
The Editors,
National Review,
17 Apr. 2025
-
Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders.—
Ryan Ferrier,
Forbes.com,
17 Apr. 2025
Adverb
-
With his ship now loaded well beyond its normal capacity, the Carpathia’s captain didn’t concern himself with the bodies of the dead but instead set a course for New York City.—
Greg Daugherty,
Smithsonian Magazine,
14 Apr. 2025
-
But then Johnson instead fought those efforts, Ethics Committee Chair Ald.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Apr. 2025
Adverb
-
Some, called rogue planets, don't even orbit a star, but are rather floating through the cosmos untethered.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2025
-
However, this is not an isolated incident, but rather the latest in a history of underperformance.—
Kenneth Squire,
CNBC,
19 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Gain an edge with CNBC Pro LIVE , an exclusive, inaugural event at the historic New York Stock Exchange.—
Lisa Kailai Han,
CNBC,
17 Apr. 2025
-
This past season, the Tigers finished with an 11-2 record, capturing the conference title and securing a victory over South Carolina State in the inaugural Celebration Bowl.—
Daniel Libit,
Sportico.com,
16 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
That result was no surprise, according to Mitchell Elkind, MD, the chief clinical science officer at the American Heart Association.—
Emily Kay Votruba,
EverydayHealth.com,
14 Apr. 2025
-
Extreme temperatures are fueled by the climate crisis, the chief driver of which is the burning of fossil fuels.—
Sam Meredith,
CNBC,
14 Apr. 2025
Adverb
-
The champagne – preferably Cristal or Veuve Clicquot – flowed, and the gourmet food was presented with flair and then some.—
USA Today,
USA Today,
21 Apr. 2025
-
For the Magic to stretch this Eastern Conference first-round series beyond four games, or even hope to threaten the Celtics’ championship defense, someone on the roster — preferably, more than one person — must give Banchero and Wagner some scoring help.—
Josh Robbins,
New York Times,
21 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“First.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/first. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.
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