first
first
Pronunciation
IPA Phonetic Spelling: /fɜːrst/
Syllable Breakdown:
fɜːr (first syllable):
/f/ - voiceless labiodental fricative
/ɜː/ - open-mid front unrounded vowel
/r/ - alveolar approximant
st (second syllable):
/s/ - voiceless alveolar fricative
/t/ - voiceless alveolar stop
Word Form Variations
Word Form Variations of "First":
Singular: first
Plural: first (no change in form for plural)
Comparative: first (no comparative form)
Superlative: first (no superlative form)
Note: "First" is already the most extreme form of its meaning (the initial position or order), so it doesn't have a comparative or superlative form.
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Definitions, Synonyms, Antonyms
Noun
Definition: The initial or leading position, rank, or order.
Synonyms: beginning, start, outset, commencement, premiere
Antonyms: last, final, end, conclusion
Adjective
Definition: Coming or occurring before all others; earliest.
Synonyms: initial, primary, original, leading, foremost
Antonyms: last, final, subsequent, following
Adverb
Definition: Before anything else; in the beginning.
Synonyms: initially, primarily, originally, at first, to start with
Antonyms: lastly, finally, subsequently, afterward
Verb
Definition: To do something before others; to initiate or lead.
Synonyms: precede, anticipate, introduce, pioneer, inaugurate
Antonyms: follow, succeed, come after
Examples of Use
Books
Literary fiction: "He was the first to arrive at the party." (Example from "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen)
Non-fiction: "The first humans to walk on the moon were Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin." (Example from a history textbook)
Newspapers
Headline: "First Woman Elected as President of the United States" (Example from The New York Times)
Article: "The first responders arrived on the scene within minutes." (Example from The Washington Post)
Online Publications
Blog post: "This is my first blog post." (Example from a personal blog)
Website: "Click the "First" button to go to the beginning of the page." (Example from a website's navigation menu)
Entertainment Mediums and Platforms
Movie title: "First Blood" (Action film starring Sylvester Stallone)
Song title: "First Love" (Popular song by the band 10,000 Maniacs)
Video game: "The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim" (Role-playing game where the player character can become the first Dragonborn)
General Public Discourse
Conversation: "I was the first one to finish my homework."
Speech: "Let us strive to be the first generation to achieve world peace."
Slogan: "First to market, best in class."
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10 Famous Quotes Using the term First
"The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."
— Lao Tzu (often paraphrased as taking the first step)"First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win."
— Mahatma Gandhi"Be yourself; everyone else is already taken."
— Oscar Wilde (emphasizing the first priority of self-authenticity)"The first step toward success is taken when you refuse to be a captive of the environment in which you first find yourself."
— Mark Caine"Do the hard jobs first. The easy jobs will take care of themselves."
— Dale Carnegie"You have to expect things of yourself before you can do them."
— Michael Jordan (hinting at the importance of first believing in oneself)"First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do."
— Epictetus"The first wealth is health."
— Ralph Waldo Emerson"In order to write about life first, you must live it."
— Ernest Hemingway"Courage is the first of human qualities because it is the quality which guarantees all others."
— Winston Churchill
Etymology
The word "first" comes from the Old English word "fyrst," which means "foremost" or "earliest." It's related to other Germanic languages like Old Norse "frǣr" and Old High German "frōr," which have similar meanings.
So, the word "first" has been around for a long time, and its meaning has stayed pretty much the same since it was first used. It's a very old and basic word that we use every day to talk about things that come before others or are in the beginning.
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Phrases + Idioms Containing the term First
Common Phrases
First and foremost: Most importantly.
First come, first served: A rule or principle that states that people will be served in the order in which they arrive.
First impression: The initial opinion or judgment formed of someone or something.
First love: A person's first romantic relationship.
First-world problem: A trivial problem that is typical of affluent countries.
Less Common Phrases
First and last: A final warning or threat.
First blood: The first person to be injured or killed in a fight.
First-rate: Of the highest quality or excellence.
First-hand: Directly from the source.
First-born: The eldest child.
Idioms with Synonyms
In the first place: To begin with, initially.
To get a head start: To start before others.
To take the lead: To be in the forefront or ahead of others.
To set the ball rolling: To start something.
To break the ice: To start a conversation or social interaction.
Posts Related to First
Source Information
Definition of first from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
