first off

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

first /fɜrst/   adj. 

1. being before all others with respect to time, order, rank, importance, etc.:
   I was the first guest to arrive.
2. Automotive low (def. 18):
   [before a noun] When we put the car in first gear it stalls.

adv. 

3. before all others or anything else in time, order, rank, etc.:
   We arrived first.
4. before some other thing, event, etc.:
   Clean up your room first.
5. for the first time:
   We first met in the library stacks.
6. in preference to something else;
   rather;
   sooner:
   I'd die first.

n. 

7. the person or thing that is first in time, order, rank, etc.:
   [countable* singular: the + ~] I was the first to arrive.
8. the beginning:
   [uncountable] At first, we were nervous.
9. something that happens for the first time:
   [countable* usually singular: a + ~] It was a first for me.
10. Automotive low gear in an automotive vehicle:
    [uncountable] She shifted into first and drove off.

Idioms

11. Idioms at first sight, at once;
    immediately:
    It was love at first sight.
12. Idioms, Informal Terms first off, at the outset;
    immediately:
    First off, why are you here?
13. Idioms first thing, before anything else:
    We caught the train first thing in the morning.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

first  (fûrst), adj. 

1. 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.
2. Music and Dance highest or chief among several voices or instruments of the same class:
   first alto; first horn.
3. Automotive low (def. 31).
4. (often cap.) 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.
5. Idioms first thing, before anything else;
   at once;
   promptly:
   I'll call you first thing when I arrive.

adv. 

6. before all others or anything else in time, order, rank, etc.
7. before some other thing, event, etc.:
   If you're going, phone first.
8. for the first time:
   She first visited Atlanta in 1980.
9. in preference to something else;
   rather;
   sooner:
   I'd die first.
10. in the first place;
    firstly.
11. Idioms first and last, everything considered;
    above all else;
    altogether:
    First and last, it is important to know oneself.
12. first off, [Informal.] at the outset;
    immediately:
    He wanted to know first off why he hadn't been notified.

n. 

13. the person or thing that is first in time, order, rank, etc.
14. the beginning.
15. the first part;
    first member of a series.
16. Music and Dance, Informal Terms
    • the voice or instrument that takes the highest or chief part in its class, esp. in an orchestra or chorus.
    • a leader of a part or group of performers.
17. Automotive low gear;
    first gear:
    She shifted into first and drove off.
18. the winning position or rank in a race or other competition.
19. Sport [Baseball.] See first base. 
20. Business Usually, firsts. [Com.]
    • Business a product or goods of the first or highest quality.
    • Business goods produced according to specifications, without visible flaws. Cf. second¹ (def. 23), third (def. 12).
21. Education [Brit. Univ.]
    • first-class honors. Cf. class (def. 18).
    • a person who has won such honors.

• bef. 1000; Middle English; Old English fyr(e)st (see fore¹, -est); cognate with German Fürst prince

first′ness, adj. 

first, +adj. 

1. (often cap.) 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.