Basic Details
Word: First
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Coming before all others in time, order or rank.
Synonyms: earliest, initial, opening, foremost
Antonyms: last, final
How to Spell First
Syllables: first
Tricky part: The vowel sound is spelt ir, not ur or er. When typing fast, people also swap the s and r.
Watch out for: furst, ferst, fisrt
Memory tip: First uses the same ir as bird and girl. Picture the first bird awake at dawn.
Idioms and Phrases
- first come, first served: People who arrive earliest are dealt with before others. Example: "The free passes were given on a first come, first served basis."
- at first sight: When you see someone or something for the very first time. Example: "At first sight, the puzzle looked easy."
Usage Examples
Example 1: Tanvi was the first in her class to finish the reading challenge.
Example 2: Our first stop on the trip was the Gateway of India.
Example 3: January is the first month of the year.
Fun Fact
First comes from the Old English fyrest, which meant the most forward. It is the superlative of fore, the word still seen in forehead and forefront.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell-o-Spell
Only one of these words is spelt correctly. Choose the meaning of that word:
1. sirvey 2. mischievious 3. embarass 4. first
a) fond of playing tricks or causing small trouble
b) coming before all others
c) to make someone feel shy or awkward
d) a study of what a group of people think or do
Show answer
b) coming before all others. Survey begins sur, mischievous has no i after the v, and embarrass doubles both r and s. That leaves first.
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of 'first' as it is used in the sentence:
Meera was the first student from her village to win a national science scholarship.
a) only
b) foremost
c) last
d) earliest
Show answer
c) last. Earliest and foremost stand with first; last is at the other end of the line.
Word Cookie
Find the misspelt word in the sentence:
The furst batch of mangoes from the orchard in Ratnagiri was packed carefully and sent to the markets in Mumbai before sunrise.
a) markets
b) carefully
c) orchard
d) furst
Show answer
d) furst. The er sound in first is written ir, just as in thirsty.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Pick the ordinal number word:
a) once
b) first
c) one
d) single
Show answer
b) first
2. If you do something 'first thing in the morning', you do it ____.
a) late at night
b) very early
c) at noon
d) never
Show answer
b) very early
