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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

First: Meaning, Examples, and Usage Guide (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：coming before all others (first)

first 🔊

/fɜːrst/

adj., adv., n.

Coming before all others in order or importance; number one.

First place winner on gold medal podium with bouquet

coming before all others 🔊

➕

/ˈkʌmɪŋ bɪˈfɔːr ɔːl ˈʌðərz/

adj., adv., n.

Refers to the position or rank that precedes everyone or everything else in order, importance, or time.

📁 Category：Entertainment & Sports 🔖 Level：Beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Old English 'fyrst', superlative of 'fore', meaning 'before all others'.

💡 Mnemonic

Imagine a podium with a '1' on the highest step—'first' always stands at the top.

📖 Example

She won the gold medal and stood on the first place podium. 🔊 She won the gold medal and stood on the first place podium.

🔗 Collocations

first place – the position of being the best or highest in a competition

first time – the initial occasion something happens

first priority – the most important matter requiring attention

🔄 Synonyms

primary (adj.) – first in order or importance; main

foremost (adj.) – most prominent in rank, importance, or position

initial (adj.) – occurring at the beginning of a process or series

🚫 Antonyms

last (adj.) – coming after all others in order or time

secondary (adj.) – coming after the first in importance or rank

final (adj.) – occurring at the end; conclusive

🌱 Derivatives

firstly (adv.) – in the first place; used to introduce the first point

firsthand (adj./adv.) – obtained directly from the original source

firstborn (n.) – the first child born to a person or couple

📖 Cultural Story

Derived from Proto-Indo-European *per- ('forward'). 'First' appears in idioms like 'first come, first served' and is key in rankings and sequences.

Meaning 2：before anything else (first)

first 🔊

/fɜːrst/

adj., adv., n.

Before anyone or anything else; at the beginning.

First step of pouring water into teapot for tea

before anything else 🔊

➕

/bɪˈfɔːr ˈɛniθɪŋ ɛls/

adj., adv., n.

Indicates the initial step or action in a sequence, emphasizing that nothing else happens prior.

📁 Category：Behaviors & Actions 🔖 Level：Beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

First, boil the water, then add the tea leaves to the pot. 🔊 First, boil the water, then add the tea leaves to the pot.

🔗 Collocations

first of all – before any other action or consideration

first and foremost – as the most important or primary thing

first thing – at the earliest time in the morning or beginning of an activity

🔄 Synonyms

initially (adv.) – at the beginning of a process or sequence

firstly (adv.) – used to introduce the first point or step

primarily (adv.) – mainly; as the main reason or focus

🚫 Antonyms

last (adv.) – after all others in order or sequence

finally (adv.) – at the end of a series of events

secondly (adv.) – used to introduce the second point in a list

🌱 Derivatives

firstly (adv.) – in the first place; used to introduce the first point

firsthand (adj./adv.) – obtained directly from the original source

firstborn (n.) – the first child born to a person or couple