Synonyms and Antonyms of first
1
coming before all others in time or order
- the much-studied first—and last—voyage of the Titanic
earliest, foremost, headmost, inaugural, initial, leadoff, maiden, original, pioneer, premier, virgin
2
coming before all others in importance
- there are a number of reasons we can't go, but the first is that we don't have the money
arch, big, capital, cardinal, central, chief, dominant, foremost, grand, great, greatest, highest, key, leading, main, master, number one (also No. 1), numero uno, overbearing, overmastering, overriding, paramount, predominant, preeminent, premier, primal, primary, principal, prior, sovereign (also sovran), supreme
distinguished, eminent, illustrious, noble, notable, noteworthy, outstanding, prestigious, signal, star, stellar, superior
high-level, senior, top
important, influential, major, mighty, momentous, significant
incomparable, matchless, unequaled (or unequalled), unparalleled, unsurpassed
celebrated, famed, famous, renowned
inconsequential, inconsiderable, insignificant, minor, negligible, slight, trifling, trivial, unimportant
collateral, inferior, secondary, subordinate, subsidiary
3
highest in rank or authority
- auditioned and got first clarinet in the band
chief, commanding, foremost, head, high, lead, leading, preeminent, premier, presiding, primary, prime, principal, supereminent, supreme, top
high-level, senior
controlling, directing, managing, officiating, overseeing, regnant, reigning, ruling, supervisory
main, major, paramount, predominant, predominate, sovereign (also sovran)
ascendant (also ascendent), dominant, grand, superior, topmost, upmost, upper
