2first adverb
1 a : before any other in time, order, or importance
▪ I have to pay him first. ▪ She finished first in the race. = She came in first in the race. = (Brit) She came first in the race. ▪ You go first. ▪ He said it first. ▪ These problems are not as simple as they first appear.
b : for the first time
▪ I loved her when I first saw her. ▪ We met first at a party. = We first met at a party. ▪ This word was first recorded in the 19th century.
c : before doing other things
▪ We'll get started soon, but first we have to make sure everyone is here. 2 — used to introduce a statement that is the first in a series of statements ▪ First, let me explain my reasons for calling this meeting. ▪ I want to talk about several things in this meeting. First, the schedule. Second,… — often used in the phrases first of all and first off ▪ Let me explain, first of all, why I called this meeting. ▪ First off, there's some confusion we have to clear up.
▪ I have to pay him first. ▪ She finished first in the race. = She came in first in the race. = (Brit) She came first in the race. ▪ You go first. ▪ He said it first. ▪ These problems are not as simple as they first appear.
b : for the first time
▪ I loved her when I first saw her. ▪ We met first at a party. = We first met at a party. ▪ This word was first recorded in the 19th century.
c : before doing other things
▪ We'll get started soon, but first we have to make sure everyone is here.
come first
: to be more important than other things
▪ My career is important, but my family comes first.
▪ My career is important, but my family comes first.
first and foremost
: at the most basic level
▪ He is first and foremost [=primarily, fundamentally] a teacher.
▪ He is first and foremost [=primarily, fundamentally] a teacher.
first and last
: at the most basic level : in all respects
▪ This is first and last a matter of national security.
▪ This is first and last a matter of national security.
first come, first served or first come, first serve
— used to say that the people who arrive earliest get served or treated before the people who arrive later ▪ The campsites are first come, first served, so we'd better get there early. = The campsites are assigned on a first-come-first-serve basis, so we'd better get there early. ▪ “Aren't there any cookies left?” “Sorry—first come, first served.”
