firsts: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
MediumBoth formal and informal, common in journalistic, narrative, and congratulatory contexts.
Quick answer
What does “firsts” mean?
Initial instances or occurrences.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Initial instances or occurrences; things that happen, are created, or achieved before all others of the same kind.
Can refer to pioneering achievements, inaugural events, or premier items in a series or collection, especially in sports, arts, or personal milestones.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical. Slight preference in UK for 'firsts' in academic contexts (referring to first-class honours degree).
Connotations
Both share connotations of achievement and novelty.
Frequency
Comparable frequency, with perhaps higher usage in US sports journalism.
Grammar
How to Use “firsts” in a Sentence
[celebrate/achieve] + firsts[list/collection] of + firstsfirsts + [in/for] + fieldVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to market innovations or company milestones ('The startup celebrated several industry firsts').
Academic
Can refer to first-class honours degrees at UK universities ('She graduated with a double first').
Everyday
Used for personal milestones like a baby's first steps or words ('We're recording all her firsts').
Technical
In publishing/philately, refers to first editions or first-day covers.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “firsts”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “firsts”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “firsts”
- Using as singular ('a firsts'), confusing with 'first' (adj), incorrect determiner use ('the firsts' vs 'her firsts').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It's moderately common, used more in specific contexts like sports, milestones, and collecting rather than everyday conversation.
No, 'firsts' is exclusively a plural noun. The verb form related to 'first' is archaic ('to first' meaning to be first).
'Firsts' often implies noteworthy, recordable, or celebrated initial occurrences. 'First times' can be more mundane and descriptive.
Use it as a plural count noun, often preceded by a possessive (her, its, the company's) or quantifier (many, several), and followed by a context (firsts in science).
Initial instances or occurrences.
Firsts is usually both formal and informal, common in journalistic, narrative, and congratulatory contexts. in register.
Firsts: in British English it is pronounced /fɜːsts/, and in American English it is pronounced /fɝːsts/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Firsts and lasts”
- “A string of firsts”
- “A book of firsts”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a race: the person who finishes **first** wins. Multiple races mean multiple **firsts**.
Conceptual Metaphor
BEGINNING IS A POSITION (being at the front of a sequence).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'firsts' MOST likely to refer to academic achievement?