first-stringer
Top roster athlete
A first-stringer is a member of a team's starting lineup—the players who take the field or court at the beginning of a game.
The term extends beyond sports to mean any top performer or key player in an organization: She's a first-stringer at the law firm.
Opposite of second-stringer or bench player.
Initiator of action
- varsityPrimary school squad
- lineupOrdered list of participants
- star playerTeam's premier athlete
- key playerEssential contributor to success
captain · playmaker · all-star · regular · mainstay · letterman · team leader · franchise player
Superior select group
- top-tierOf highest quality
- A-listTop celebrity ranking
- premierFirst in importance
- frontlineCombat's forward position
prime · headline · marquee · number-one · top-drawer · blue-chip · top-flight · main event
starter
Initiator of action
- varsityPrimary school squad
- lineupOrdered list of participants
- star playerTeam's premier athlete
key player · captain · playmaker · all-star · regular · mainstay · letterman · team leader · franchise player · clutch performer
elite
Superior select group
frontline · prime · headline · marquee · number-one · top-drawer · blue-chip · top-flight · main event · headliner
dependable
Worthy of trust
- consistentNot varying or contradicting
- trustworthyWorthy of confidence
- steadfastFirmly loyal, unshakeable
loyal · faithful · solid · proven · unfailing · go-to · clutch · stalwart · rock · anchor
first-stringerbenchwarmer
Seldom-used team member
second-stringer · substitute · backup · reserve · bench player
first-stringersecond-rater
Person of middling ability
B-lister · minor leaguer · also-ran · journeyman · has-been
first, string, stringer, firsts, strings, stringers, stringed, stringing, stringy