Definition of first:

• Before any other person or thing in time, space, rank, etc.; -- much used in composition with adjectives and participles.
• The upper part of a duet, trio, etc., either vocal or instrumental; -- so called because it generally expresses the air, and has a preeminence in the combined effect.
• the time at which something begins; " They got an early start"
• the lowest forward gear ratio in the gear box of a motor vehicle; used to start a car moving
• ( Great Britain) an honours degree of the highest class
• the first element in a countable series; " the first of the month"
• the first or highest in an ordering or series; " He wanted to be the first"
• The beginning.
• The upper part of a duet, trio, etc., either vocal or instrumental; - so called because it generally expresses the air, and has a preeminence in the combined effect.
• Earliest; foremost; chief.
• That which is first.
• before anything else; " first we must consider the garter snake"
• the initial time; " when Felix first saw a garter snake"
• Before any other person or thing in time, space, rank, etc.; - much used in composition with adjectives and participles.
• Before all others in order, place, rank, time, etc.; sooner.
• Before anything else, in time, space, rank, etc.
• In the first place; earlier; rather; sooner.
• Before anything else in time, place, rank, consideration, & c. At first, at the beginning. First or last, at one time or another; at the beginning or end.
• Before anything else.
• indicating the beginning unit in a series
• ranking above all others; " was first in her class"; " the foremost figure among marine artists"; " the top graduate"
• serving to set in motion; " the magazine's inaugural issue"; " the initiative phase in the negotiations"; " an initiatory step toward a treaty"; " his first ( or maiden) speech in Congress"; " the liner's maiden voyage"
• preceding all others in time or space or degree; " the first house on the right"; " the first day of spring"; " his first political race"; " her first baby"; " the first time"; " the first meetings of the new party"; " the first phase of his training"
• highest in pitch or chief among parts or voices or instruments or orchestra sections; " first soprano"; " the first violin section"; " played first horn"
• before another in time, space, or importance; " I was here first"; " let's do this job first"
• Preceding all others of a series or kind; the ordinal of one; earliest; as, the first day of a month; the first year of a reign.
• Foremost; in front of, or in advance of, all others.
• Most eminent or exalted; most excellent; chief; highest; as, Demosthenes was the first orator of Greece.
• The ordinal of one; foremost in place, rank, dignity, time, excellence, etc.; earliest; most important; chief.
• Foremost; preceding all others in place, time, or degree; most eminent; chief.
• Before the rest.
• Before all others; earliest; nearest; leading; chief; best.
• Foremost in place, time, rank, dignity, or excellence.
• Earliest in time; foremost; chief; principal; primary; the ordinal of one.

Usage examples for first

1. " I saw it first," said one.  Folk Tales Every Child Should Know by Various

2. Oh I see- and they have to see you first.  The Awkward Age by Henry James

3. It is said that the first question he asked was, " When will it be daylight?"  The Heart of Denise and Other Tales by S. (Sidney) Levett-Yeats

4. He had lost his all; first Julie, and now, Fleur.  The Whelps of the Wolf by George Marsh