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first thing

first thing
F f

Transcription

    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • UK Pronunciation
    • UK IPA
    • [furst thing]
    • /fɜrst θɪŋ/
    • /fɜːst θɪŋ/
    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [furst thing]
    • /fɜrst θɪŋ/

Definitions of first thing words

  • adjective first thing being before all others with respect to time, order, rank, importance, etc., used as the ordinal number of one: the first edition; the first vice president. 1
  • adjective first thing Music. highest or chief among several voices or instruments of the same class: first alto; first horn. 1
  • adjective first thing Automotive. low1 (def 31). 1
  • adjective first thing (often initial capital letter) being a member of the household or an intimate acquaintance of the president of the U.S. or of the governor of a state: the First Lady; Checkers, the first dog. 1
  • adverb first thing before all others or anything else in time, order, rank, etc. 1
  • adverb first thing before some other thing, event, etc.: If you're going, phone first. 1

Information block about the term

Origin of first thing

First appearance:

before 1000
One of the 6% oldest English words
before 1000; Middle English; Old English fyr(e)st (see fore1, -est1); cognate with German Fürst prince

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for First thing

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation

first thing popularity

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 98% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

first thing usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

Synonyms for first thing

adv first thing

  • foremost — Most prominent in rank, importance, or position.
  • immediately — without lapse of time; without delay; instantly; at once: Please telephone him immediately.
  • up front — of or relating to the front.
  • first of all — to start with
  • firstly — in the first place; first.

See also

Matching words

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