First means coming before all others in time, order, or importance. It can describe position (the first page), sequence (she arrived first), or priority (safety comes first).
What Does First Mean?
First is one of the most frequently used words in English, appearing across every register from casual conversation to formal writing. Its core meaning is “before all others” — whether in a physical sequence, a timeline, or a hierarchy of importance.
The word is unusually versatile: it functions as an ordinal number (the first of January), an adjective (my first car), an adverb (think first), and a noun (a world first). This flexibility means learners encounter it constantly, yet its various grammatical roles can cause confusion.
Key distinctions to learn: first versus firstly (both introduce a point, but firstly is more formal); at first versus first of all (different meanings — see the usage notes below); and first versus former (former is used only when exactly two items are mentioned).
From Old English fyrest, the superlative of fore (“before, in front”). Related to Old High German furist and Old Norse fyrstr. The Proto-Germanic root *furista- gave rise to a family of English words including fore, former, foremost, and the prefix fore-. In use since Old English; the modern spelling “first” settled by the 16th century.
Example Sentences (A2 to C1)
| Sentence | Level & usage note |
|---|---|
| She was the first in her family to go to university. | A2 — adjective + noun phrase |
| First, wash your hands, then prepare the ingredients. | B1 — adverb sequencing instructions |
| At first he found the grammar confusing, but it got easier with practice. | B1 — “at first” showing initial stage |
| The company placed customer satisfaction first in all its decisions. | B2 — idiomatic: “place X first” = prioritise |
| Winning an Olympic gold medal on home soil was a momentous first for the nation. | C1 — noun use: “a first” = unprecedented achievement |
Collocations
| Collocation | Example |
|---|---|
| first time | It was the first time she had seen snow. |
| first name | Please write your first name and surname. |
| first aid | Every member of staff has a first aid certificate. |
| first class | He graduated with a first-class degree in Physics. |
| first impression | Her first impression of the city was very positive. |
| first step | The first step is always the hardest. |
| first of all | First of all, I would like to thank our sponsors. |
| first and foremost | She is, first and foremost, a teacher. |
| come first | Family always comes first for him. |
| at first glance | At first glance the problem looked simple. |
Usage Notes
- First vs firstly: Both introduce the opening item in a list. Firstly is preferred in formal written English; first (or first of all) is more common in speech and informal writing. Avoid mixing styles — if you start with firstly, continue with secondly, thirdly.
- At first vs first of all: At first signals an initial situation that later changes (“At first I hated coffee”). First of all introduces the most important or earliest item in a series. These phrases are not interchangeable.
- First as a noun: In British English, a first can refer to a first-class university degree (“She got a first”) or any unprecedented achievement (“a world first”).
- Hyphenation: When first is part of a compound modifier before a noun, use a hyphen: first-class service, first-rate performance. No hyphen after the noun: the service is first class.
- Ordinal abbreviation: The written abbreviation is 1st. In formal British English, ordinals are often written out in full in running text: the first of March rather than 1st March (though both are acceptable).
Common Mistakes
Watch Out For
At first of all, let me explain the rules.
First of all, let me explain the rules. (at first and first of all have different meanings — do not blend them)
She was the first who finished the test.
She was the first to finish the test. (use to + infinitive, not a relative clause, after the first / second / last)
He was former to arrive at the meeting.
He was the first to arrive at the meeting. (former is only used to contrast two previously mentioned items — it does not mean “first in a sequence”)
It is my first time to visit London.
It is my first time visiting London. (after first time, use a gerund, not to + infinitive)