first
ordinal number, determiner uk/ˈfɜːst/ us/ˈfɝːst/
A1 第一（的）;首先;最初;首要（的）
(a person or thing) coming before all others in order, time, amount, quality, or importance
This is my first visit to New York. 这是我第一次到纽约。
I fell in love with him the first time I saw him. 我对他一见钟情。
I'm always nervous for the first few minutes of an exam. 考试开始的头几分钟我总是很紧张。
Today is the first (of August). 今天是（8月）1号。
in the first placeB2 最初，原本
in or at the beginning (of a series of events)
The trousers shrank when I washed them, but they weren't really big enough in the first place. 这条长裤洗过后缩水了，但是它原本就不够大。
Thankfully, he wasn't hurt, but he never should have been there in the first place. 谢天谢地他没受伤，但是他原本就不应该到那儿去。
in the first instanceUK 首先
as the first attempt or effort
Enquiries about the post should be addressed in the first instance to the personnel manager. 询问职位事宜应该首先咨询人事经理。
first thing 一大早
at the earliest time in the day
He said he'd call back first thing tomorrow. 他说明天一大早他会回电话的。
- More examples
- You roll/throw the dice and whoever gets the highest score goes first.
- Their first baby is due in January.
- When did you first encounter these difficulties?
- I was amazed to hear that Chris had won first prize.
- Yesterday the company announced its first ever fall in profits.
Idioms
be in the first flush ofidiom 在…之初，在…的最初阶段
to be at the start of something
He's no longer in the first flush of youth. 他已不再青春年少。
first things firstidiom 重要的事情先做
used to tell someone that more important things should be done before less important things
First things first, let's have something to eat. 要紧的是，咱们先吃点东西吧。
first
adverb uk/ˈfɜːst/ us/ˈfɝːst/
A1 第一，首先
before all others in order, time, amount, quality, or importance
Tom came first in the race. 汤姆在比赛中获得第一。
Who finished first? 谁先完成的？
If you get home first, can you feed the cat? 你如果先到家，能喂一下猫吗？
B1 第一次，初次
for the first time
When did you first meet each other? 你们初次见面是什么时候？
The company was still very small when I first joined. 我最初加入时，这家公司还很小。
A2 (also firstly)首先（用于想说或想写的一连串事物的开头）
used at the beginning of a list of things you want to say or write
First, I want to thank my parents. 首先，我要感谢我的父母。
First (of all) (= before anything else), I'd like to ask you a few questions. 首先，我想问你几个问题。
First off (= before anything else), let me introduce myself. 首先，我来介绍一下自己。
Idioms
at firstidiom B1 起初，起先
in or at the beginning
At first, I thought he was joking but then I realized he meant it. 起初我以为他在开玩笑，后来才意识到他是认真的。
come firstidiom C1 （对某人而言）最重要的人（或事）
to be the most important person or thing to someone
Her family will always come first with her. 对她来说，家庭将一直会是最重要的。
first among equalsidiom UK 一把手（同级别中地位最高者）
a member of a group who is officially on the same level as the other members but who in fact has slightly more responsibility or power
The prime minister is first among equals in the cabinet. 英国首相是内阁中的第一把手。
first and foremostidiom C1 首要的是，首先
more than anything else
In spite of being elected to office, she remains first and foremost a writer. 尽管被选担任公职，但首先她仍然是名作家。
first and lastidiom UK最重要的是
as the most important fact
Don was, first and last, a good friend. 最重要的是，唐是个好朋友。
first come, first servedidiom 先到先得;先到先接待
used to mean that people will receive something or be dealt with in the order in which they ask or arrive
put someone/something firstidiom C2 优先考虑…；认为…是最重要的
to treat someone or something as being more important than anyone or anything else
She all too often puts others first and never stops to think of herself. 她总是优先考虑他人，从未停下来为自己考虑。
first
noun uk/ˈfɜːst/ us/ˈfɝːst/
(THING/PERSON)
B1 [ S ]第一个（做某事的）人;头一件（发生或提及的）事
the first person or thing to do or be something, or the first person or thing mentioned
[ + to infinitive ] She was one of the first to arrive. 她是第一批抵达的人之一。
He is the first (= very willing) to admit that much of his success is due to his good looks. 他非常愿意承认，他的成功很大程度上归功于他帅气的外表。
Tonight sees the first of three documentaries about cancer. 今晚播放有关癌症的三部纪录片中的第一部。
from the (very) first 从一开始
from the beginning
I've opposed the proposal from the very first. 我从一开始就反对那项提议。
(NEVER BEFORE)
C2 [ S ]从未有过的事，开创先例的事
something that has never happened or been done before
This new surgical technique is a first for (= has never been done before in) the hospital. 这种外科手术新技术在这家医院是首次应用。
(QUALIFICATION)
[ C ] UK (also first-class degree)（英国大学学位）最高成绩，优等成绩
the best possible undergraduate university degree you can get in the UK and some other countries
She has a first in English from Newcastle University. 她从纽卡斯尔大学毕业，获英语一级优等学位。
(VEHICLE)
[ U ] (also first gear)（车辆的）第一挡，一挡
(in a vehicle) the gear used when starting to drive forward or when driving up a steep hill
(BASEBALL)
[ C usually singular ] informal（同 first base）
→ first base