first thing

American  

[furst thing] / ˈfɜrst ˈθɪŋ /

adverb

1. right away, before all other actions, concerns, etc.; at the earliest opportunity.

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noun

1. the first thing, the most basic piece of information.

first thing Idioms  

1. Before anything else; without delay. For example, Tom was supposed to call him first thing in the morning. [Late 1500s] Also see under first and foremost; first off.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

first thing

"The first thing I saw was the word 'nuclear' and that made me pretty nervous and scared. So my first thought was that something nuclear was actually flying toward us."

From BBC ● Nov. 2, 2026

King and Carpenter didn’t know the first thing about making chocolate, but agreed that they wanted to offer more unique flavors as opposed to competing with the classic and more established brands.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 27, 2026

But I won’t be disagreeing with someone who doesn’t know the first thing about fiscal policy.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 25, 2026

“In a true kissa or a well-kept basement bar, the first thing you feel is not volume; it’s presence,” Mercer writes.

From Salon ● Oct. 24, 2026

The first thing I noticed was a delicious smell, sweet and spicy.

From "Rump: The (Fairly) True Story of Rumpelstilskin" by Liesl Shurtliff

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