first-rate
Americanadjective
-
excellent; superb.
-
of the highest rank, rate, or class.
adverb
adjective
-
of the best or highest rated class or quality
-
informal very good; excellent
adverb
Etymology
Origin of first-rate
First recorded in 1660–70
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Today, no one is more consistently turning out first-rate horror movies.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 17, 2026
The Fed funds futures are pricing around a 92% probability of a 25bps hike, marking the first-rate increase since 2023.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026
TrophyLab undermines one of the Kremlin’s most valuable strategic assets: its reputation as a first-rate military power.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026
“And it is. But it’s going to be first-rate Schrader soon enough. And it’s already first-rate ‘NCIS.’
From Los Angeles Times ● May 28, 2026
It was a first-rate book with lots of pictures in it.
From "The Seven Wonders of Sassafras Springs" by Betty G. Birney
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
