1first 
/ˈfɚst/ adjective
/ˈfɚst/ adjective 1 : coming before all others in time, order, or importance
▪ She won first prize. ▪ We sat in the first row. ▪ his first wife ▪ her first book/child ▪ in the first century ▪ his first offense ▪ her first kiss ▪ She succeeded on her first attempt/try. ▪ He was (the) first in line. ▪ We will correct these errors at the first opportunity. [=as soon as it is possible to do so] ▪ English is not my first [=native] language. [=it is not the language I learned first; I learned to speak another language before I learned to speak English] ▪ She's in first grade. [=the first level in school after kindergarten] ▪ I still remember the first time I saw her. ▪ You should leave at the first [=earliest] hint of trouble. ▪ My first [=initial] impulse was to say no. ▪ This is a matter of the first [=highest] importance. ▪ Your first [=main] concern should be to get well. ▪ the captain and the first mate [=the officer on a ship who is most important after the captain] ▪ She was accused of murder in the first degree. [=first-degree murder; the most serious kind of murder] 2 — used to refer to the lowest forward gear or speed of a vehicle ▪ I couldn't get the car out of first gear. 3 : having or playing the main part in a group of instruments
▪ first violin
▪ She won first prize. ▪ We sat in the first row. ▪ his first wife ▪ her first book/child ▪ in the first century ▪ his first offense ▪ her first kiss ▪ She succeeded on her first attempt/try. ▪ He was (the) first in line. ▪ We will correct these errors at the first opportunity. [=as soon as it is possible to do so] ▪ English is not my first [=native] language. [=it is not the language I learned first; I learned to speak another language before I learned to speak English] ▪ She's in first grade. [=the first level in school after kindergarten] ▪ I still remember the first time I saw her. ▪ You should leave at the first [=earliest] hint of trouble. ▪ My first [=initial] impulse was to say no. ▪ This is a matter of the first [=highest] importance. ▪ Your first [=main] concern should be to get well. ▪ the captain and the first mate [=the officer on a ship who is most important after the captain] ▪ She was accused of murder in the first degree. [=first-degree murder; the most serious kind of murder]
▪ first violin
at first blush or at first glance also at first sight
: when first seen or considered
▪ At first blush, the proposal seems ridiculous. ▪ It appears at first glance/sight to be a simple matter of hiring more people.
▪ At first blush, the proposal seems ridiculous. ▪ It appears at first glance/sight to be a simple matter of hiring more people.
at first hand
first among equals
◊A person who is first among equals is the leader of a group of people but is officially considered equal in rights and status to the other members of the group.
▪ As a director, he encourages collaboration and considers himself only (the) first among equals.
▪ As a director, he encourages collaboration and considers himself only (the) first among equals.
first thing 1 the first thing : anything at all — used in negative statements ▪ He doesn't know/understand the first thing about the problems we've been having. 2 : before anything else : right away : very early
▪ I'll be back first thing (on) Monday morning. ▪ She promised to call first thing in the morning.
▪ I'll be back first thing (on) Monday morning. ▪ She promised to call first thing in the morning.
first things first
— used to say that you should do the things that are most important before doing other things ▪ I know you're eager to start shopping for a car, but first things first—you need to find out how much you can afford to spend. ▪ You must set priorities and learn how to put first things first.
in the first flush of — see 1flush
in the first instance — see instance
in the first place — see 1place
love at first sight — see 1love
