first-line

adjective

ˈfərst-ˈlīn How to pronounce first-line (audio)
Definition of first-linenext
as in selected
singled out from a number or group as more to one's liking surgery is usually not considered a first-line treatment for this type of cancer

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of first-line The first-line treatment is trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, sold under the brand names Bactrim, Septra, or Cotrim. — Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 11 Aug. 2026 The communication drills are intended to encourage first-line fighters to be more self-reliant and effective in battle, experts say. — ABC News, 5 Aug. 2026 Iron supplements are a first-line treatment to improve iron deficiency. — Ayesha Gulzar, Verywell Health, 31 July 2026 Molecular biologist Soulama says that Burkina Faso has decided, like some other countries on the continent, to move toward multiple first-line therapies. — Christine Ro, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for first-line
Recent Examples of Synonyms for first-line
  1. selected
  2. select
  3. favorite
  4. preferred
  5. favored
Adjective
  • Some cool features include a kill switch that automatically disconnects you from the internet if the VPN connection fails, as well as split tunneling that allows selected apps to use the VPN connection while others transmit data in clear text.
    — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 25 June 2026
  • These pre-selected fighter pilots and their families moved into their apartments during the summer of 1960 after residing at the Frunze Central Airfield in Moscow.
    — Jeff Spry, Space.com, 27 May 2026
Definition of selected
Adjective
  • Verizon is offering up to $830 off the whole iPhone 17 series with the trade-in of an eligible old (or even damaged) phone and a qualified activation for select Verizon myPlan plans.
    — Kelsey Fogarty, PC Magazine, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Mamdani’s signature 2-K program is scheduled to launch this fall with 2,000 students in select school districts, with the goal of expanding citywide over four years.
    — Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of select
Adjective
  • My favorite scare must have been accomplished with the person-doubling technology from The Prestige.
    — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2026
  • It's positioned by the infinity pool and our favorite slice of sand, where beanbag loungers squat in front of a cocktail bar and a cinema-sized projector on movie nights.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of favorite
Adjective
  • The clearest sign of the change came in 2024, when a study recorded Americans choosing cannabis over alcohol for daily consumption, marking the first time in history that cannabis has overtaken alcohol as the preferred daily substance.
    — Dario Sabaghi, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • This week, the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation metric, the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index, along with the final US first-quarter GDP reading, will also be released.
    — , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of preferred
Adjective
  • The Palazzo Dandolo Paolucci is one such overlooking the Grand Canal, a true rarity amidst the everyday, awaiting whomever its next favored owner might be.
    — Nielsen Dinwoodie, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026
  • This dynamic that has produced a glut of companies in favored sectors like green technology, electric vehicles, and semiconductors, chasing far more customers than the market, domestic or global, can support.
    — Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 29 July 2026
Definition of favored

Browse Nearby Words

first lady
first-line
firstly
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Cite this Entry

“First-line.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/first-line. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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