first
Leading the sequence
Unlike most ordinal numbers, first has no etymological connection with its cardinal number one; it came to be associated with one through usage.
In all of its uses, first carries the idea of “before all others,” just as one comes before all the other whole numbers.
First can apply to things in time, space, or any other logical or ordered sequence: I shifted into first gear. We got there first. Theirs is the first house on the left.
Lowest positive integer
- initialName's opening letter
- beginningInitial stage of something
- inauguralFirst in office
- introductoryServing as a beginning
opening · primary · leading · top · premier · chief · principal · earliest
Point of creation
- inceptionFounding moment
- commencementAct of starting
- outsetInitial point of something
- dawnDay's first glow
beginning · origin · foundation · initiation · kickoff · inauguration · threshold · advent
Superior select group
- distinguishedNotable and respected
- preeminentSuperior to all others
- leadingGuiding or pacing type
- topUppermost part or surface
chief · principal · eminent · celebrated · acclaimed · best · finest · supreme
New device or method
- breakthroughSudden important advance
- noveltyQuality of being original
- originalityNovel creative quality
- discoveryAct of finding something
trailblazing · groundbreaking · unprecedented · innovative · revolutionary · avant-garde · vanguard · cutting-edge
Container or instance
- lawBinding principle or regulation
- judgmentReasoned decision-making capacity
- rulingFormal legal determination
- decisionSettled course of action
legal · binding · authority · jurisprudence · appellate · verdict · doctrine · landmark
one
Lowest positive integer
introductory · opening · primary · leading · top · premier · chief · principal · earliest · original
genesis
Point of creation
- inceptionFounding moment
- commencementAct of starting
- outsetInitial point of something
dawn · beginning · origin · foundation · initiation · kickoff · inauguration · threshold · advent · baseline
elite
Superior select group
- distinguishedNotable and respected
- preeminentSuperior to all others
- leadingGuiding or pacing type
top · chief · principal · eminent · celebrated · acclaimed · best · finest · supreme · paramount
invention
New device or method
- breakthroughSudden important advance
- noveltyQuality of being original
- originalityNovel creative quality
discovery · trailblazing · groundbreaking · unprecedented · innovative · revolutionary · avant-garde · vanguard · cutting-edge · pathfinding
case
Container or instance
- lawBinding principle or regulation
- judgmentReasoned decision-making capacity
- rulingFormal legal determination
decision · legal · binding · authority · jurisprudence · appellate · verdict · doctrine · landmark · test case
grade
Classification by rank
student · reading · writing · arithmetic · basics · learning · alphabet · numbers · childhood · kindergarten
emergency
Serious sudden danger
kit · treatment · triage · rescue · wound · paramedic · tourniquet · splint · gauze · antiseptic
firstsubsequent
Occurring after something else
following · later · derivative · secondary · unoriginal
- first timeMaiden occurrence
- first namePersonal name, not surname
- first placeWinning position
- at firstIn the beginning
- first aidInitial injury treatment
- first stepInitial action taken
first aid, first-rate, firstly, firsthand, first day covers, first flush, first mover, first-generation, first-order