How to Use "First" with Example Sentences

first (adj): earliest in time; highest in importance

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Used with nouns:

"They are celebrating their first anniversary."
(anniversary)

"He just released his first album."
(album, novel, single, story, record)

"They were leading at the end of the first half."
(half, quarter, period)

"She won first place in the competition."
(place, prize)

"He is in his first semester of grad school."
(semester, year, quarter, month)

"She rarely speaks her first language now."
(language)

"Her grandfather was one of the first settlers of the area."
(settlers, immigrants)

"That wasn't my first decision."
(decision, choice, option, preference, recommendation)

"My first instinct was to jump in after him."
(instinct, reaction, thought)

"I was full after the first course."
(course)

"He will never forget their first meeting."
(meeting, encounter)

"She was his first love."
(love, girlfriend, wife)

"This should be your first priority."
(priority, task, objective)

"He gave the students their first warning."
(warning)

first (adv): before anyone or anything else; for the first time

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Used with verbs:

"He first appeared on TV in 1950."
(appeared)

"They first discovered this behavior ten years ago."
(discovered, noticed, encountered, witnessed)

"I first met you at the office party."
(met, saw)

"They were first introduced by her best friend."
(introduced)