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Definition of first adverb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

first

adverb
 
 
/fɜːst/
 
/fɜːrst/
Idioms
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  1.  
     before anyone or anything else; at the beginning
    • ‘Do you want a drink?’ ‘I'll finish my work first.’
    • First I had to decide what to wear.
    • Who came first in the race (= who won)?
    • It plunged nose first into the river.
    • After the war, Erica went on to marry first one American millionaire and then another.
  2.  
     for the first time
    • When did you first meet him?
    • The book was first published in 1971.
    • The image has haunted me ever since I first saw it.
    • I first discovered the cello when I was four and a half.
    • If there's anything really exciting, you'll hear it here first.
  3.  
    used to introduce the first of a list of points you want to make in a speech or piece of writing synonym firstly
    • This method has two advantages: first it is cheaper and second it is quicker.
    • First, however, I would like to thank the folks at the Center for Financial Education for inviting me to speak today.
    Language Bank firstfirstOrdering your points
      • This essay has the following aims: first, to investigate how international students in the UK use humour; second, to examine how jokes can help to establish social relationships; and third, to explore the role that humour plays in helping overseas students adjust to life in the UK.
      • I will begin by identifying some of the popular joke genres in the UK.
      • Next, I will consider the question of gender differences in the use of humour.
      • Finally/Lastly, I want to examine the role of humour in defining a nation’s culture.
    note at firstly, lastlylanguage bank at conclusion, process1
    Language Bank processprocessDescribing a process
      • This diagram illustrates the process of paper-making.
      • This diagram shows how paper is made.
      • First/First of all, logs are delivered to a paper mill, where the bark is removed and the wood is cut into small chips.
      • Next/Second, the wood chips are pulped, either using chemicals or in a pulping machine.
      • Pulping breaks down the internal structure of the wood and enables/allows the natural oils to be removed.
      • Once/After the wood has been pulped, the pulp is bleached in order to remove impurities. /…is bleached so that impurities can be removed.
      • The next stage is to feed the pulp into the paper machine, where it is mixed with water and then poured onto a wire conveyor belt.
      • As the pulp travels along the conveyor belt, the water drains away. This causes the solid material to sink to the bottom, forming a layer of paper.
      • At this point the new paper is still wet, so it is passed between large heated rollers, which press out the remaining water and simultaneously dry the paper/…dry the paper at the same time.
      • The final stage is to wind the paper onto large rolls.
      • Finally, the paper is wound onto large rolls.
  4. used to emphasize that you are determined not to do something
    • She swore that she wouldn't apologize—she'd die first!
    5. Word OriginOld English fyr(e)st; of Germanic origin, related to Old Norse fyrstr and German Fürst ‘prince’, from an Indo-European root shared by Sanskrit prathama, Latin primus, and Greek prōtos.
Idioms
at first
 
  1. at or in the beginning
    • I didn't like the job much at first.
    • At first I thought he was shy, but then I discovered he was just not interested in other people.
    • (saying) If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.
    Which Word? firstly / first of all / at firstfirstly / first of all / at first
    • Firstly and first (of all) are used to introduce a series of facts, reasons, opinions, etc:
      • The brochure is divided into two sections, dealing firstly with basic courses and secondly with advanced ones.
      Firstly is more common in British English than in North American English.
    • At first is used to talk about the situation at the beginning of a period of time, especially when you are comparing it with a different situation at a later period:
      • Maggie had seen him nearly every day at first. Now she saw him much less.
come first
  1. to be considered more important than anything else
    • In any decision she makes, her family always comes first.
feet first
  1. with your feet touching the ground before any other part of your body
    • He landed feet first.
  2. (humorous) if you leave a place feet first, you are carried out after you are dead
    • You'll have to carry me out feet first!
first and foremost
  1. more than anything else
    • He does a little teaching, but first and foremost he's a writer.
    More Like This Alliteration in idiomsAlliteration in idioms
first and last
  1. in every way that is important; completely
    • She regarded herself, first and last, as a musician.
first come, first served
  1. (saying) people will be dealt with, seen, etc. strictly in the order in which they arrive
    • Tickets are available on a first come, first served basis.
first of all
  1.  
     before doing anything else; at the beginning
    • First of all, let me ask you something.
    Language Bank processprocessDescribing a process
      • This diagram illustrates the process of paper-making.
      • This diagram shows how paper is made.
      • First/First of all, logs are delivered to a paper mill, where the bark is removed and the wood is cut into small chips.
      • Next/Second, the wood chips are pulped, either using chemicals or in a pulping machine.
      • Pulping breaks down the internal structure of the wood and enables/allows the natural oils to be removed.
      • Once/After the wood has been pulped, the pulp is bleached in order to remove impurities. /…is bleached so that impurities can be removed.
      • The next stage is to feed the pulp into the paper machine, where it is mixed with water and then poured onto a wire conveyor belt.
      • As the pulp travels along the conveyor belt, the water drains away. This causes the solid material to sink to the bottom, forming a layer of paper.
      • At this point the new paper is still wet, so it is passed between large heated rollers, which press out the remaining water and simultaneously dry the paper/…dry the paper at the same time.
      • The final stage is to wind the paper onto large rolls.
      • Finally, the paper is wound onto large rolls.
  2.  
     as the most important thing
    • The content of any article needs, first of all, to be relevant to the reader.
Which Word? firstly / first of all / at firstfirstly / first of all / at first
  • Firstly and first (of all) are used to introduce a series of facts, reasons, opinions, etc:
    • The brochure is divided into two sections, dealing firstly with basic courses and secondly with advanced ones.
    Firstly is more common in British English than in North American English.
  • At first is used to talk about the situation at the beginning of a period of time, especially when you are comparing it with a different situation at a later period:
    • Maggie had seen him nearly every day at first. Now she saw him much less.
first off
  1. (informal, especially British English) before anything else
    • First off, let's see how much it'll cost.
first up
  1. (British English, informal) to start with; before anything else
    • First up is a report on the situation in Australia.
head first
  1. moving forwards or downwards with your head in front of the rest of your body
    • He fell head first down the stairs.
  2. without thinking carefully about something before acting synonym headlong
    • She got divorced and rushed head first into another marriage.
put somebody/something first
  1. to consider somebody/something to be more important than anyone/anything else
    • She always puts her children first.
safety first
  1. (saying) safety is the most important thing
    • When cycling on the roads, remember: safety first.
See first in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee first in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
Check pronunciation: first

Nearby words

previously
adverb
 
 
From the Word list
Oxford 3000
B1
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