first

The word "first" is an ordinal number used when ranking things or people. If something is first, it’s at the top of a list followed by others.

• Pamela is first in line. She’s first.
• Manuel is first in his class. (He’s the best student according to his grades.)
• Students are giving speeches in class today. Who’s first?
• Who wants to go first?
• Do you want to be first?
• When driving a car with a manual transmission, the lowest gear is the first gear. Shift from first gear to second gear.
• This is the first time Diane has ever eaten Indian food. She’s never had it before.
• Mohamed has never been to a baseball game before. This is his first time.
• Richard always has to be first in anything he does.
• He likes to be first.
• He likes being first.
• First things first. (We have to take care of the most important responsibilities before everything else.)
• The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees the freedom of speech, assembly, religion, and the press.
• First responders to an emergency help those who have been hurt.
• It’s a good idea to have a first-aid kit handy in case someone gets hurt.

first-aid kit

Learn more vocabulary here.

May 8, 2018