adj · noun · verb · 14 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
UK:/ˈpɹɛ.mi.ɛː/
UK:/ˈpɹɛm.jɛː/
UK:/ˈpɹɛ.mi.ə/
UK:/ˈpɹɛm.jə/
US:/pɹɪˈmɪəɹ/
Canada:/ˈpɹimjɚ/
Australian:/ˈpɹemjə/
Canada:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
Australia:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -ɪə(ɹ)
homophone: premiere (in some US pronunciations, not in UK pronunciation)
CMU ARPABET:P R EH0 M IH1 R
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
CMU ARPABET 2:P R IY0 M IH1 R
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Foremost; first or highest in quality or degree.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable
Examples
2004, Philip Moore, Scouting an Anthropology of Sport, Anthropologica, Volume 46, Number 1, Canadian Anthropology Society, page 40, This failure, for a team associated with one of the premier Australian Rules Football teams with the longest of traditions, is truly enormous.
2011, Kate Askew, Dot. Bomb Australia, Read How You Want, page 70, If they′d followed the advice they had received more carefully, they would have paired up with John Fairfax Holdings, later Fairfax Media, Australia′s premier independent media company.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adj
Meaning 2
Most ancient; first to hold a specified status.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
The head of government in parliament and leader of the cabinet.
The prime minister.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: UK, Westminster-system
Qualifier: UK parliament
Topics: government, politics
Examples
1871 July 29, “Our Tyrant”, The Spectator, Volume 303, Issues 9308-9315, page 910, Mr. Gladstone had literally no option. Not to coerce the Lords was to coerce the Commons to continue purchase in spite of their repeated votes for its abolition, and this the Premier had as little the power as the will to do.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
The head of government in parliament and leader of the cabinet.
The leader of a state or provincial government and cabinet.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
noun
Meaning 5
The government leader in a legislative congress or leader of a government-level administrative body; the head of government.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Qualifier: non-Westminster
Topics: government, politics
Examples
1983, Guo Zhou, China & the World, Volume 4, Beijing Review, page 13, This shows that our policy of strengthening friendly ties with Africa as developed by Chairman Mao Zedong and Premier Zhou Enlai is a correct one and that it has won popular support in Africa.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
noun
Meaning 6
The first lieutenant or other second-in-command officer of a ship.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: slang
Topics: nautical, transport
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
noun
Meaning 7
The champion team of a particular season (especially as used in Australian rules football).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: Australia
Qualifier: sporting
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
8
verb
Meaning 8
To perform, display or exhibit for the first time.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
The composer invited all his friends when they premiered the movie he orchestrated, we got to see it before anyone but the crew.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
9
verb
Meaning 9
To govern in the role of premier.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
10
adjective satellite
Meaning 10
preceding all others in time
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
the premiere showing
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: premiere
Antonyms: none provided
11
noun
Meaning 11
the person who is head of state (in several countries)
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: chancellor, prime minister
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: head of state, chief of state
Narrower terms: taoiseach
12
noun
Meaning 12
the person who holds the position of head of the government in the United Kingdom
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: Prime Minister, PM
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: head of state, chief of state
13
verb
Meaning 13
perform a work for the first time
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: premiere
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: perform, execute, do
14
verb
Meaning 14
be performed for the first time
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
We premiered the opera of the young composer and it was a critical success
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: premiere
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French premier (adjective), from Latin prīmārius. Doublet of primary.
Across languages
Translations
36 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Bulgarian:
главен
(glaven)
— foremost, very first or very highest in quality or degree
Bulgarian:
старши
(starši)
— foremost, very first or very highest in quality or degree
Czech:
přední
— foremost, very first or very highest in quality or degree
Finnish:
tärkein
— foremost, very first or very highest in quality or degree
Finnish:
johtava
— foremost, very first or very highest in quality or degree
French:
premier
— foremost, very first or very highest in quality or degree
French:
première
— foremost, very first or very highest in quality or degree
Interlingua:
prime
— foremost, very first or very highest in quality or degree
Polish:
główny
— foremost, very first or very highest in quality or degree
Polish:
pierwszy
— foremost, very first or very highest in quality or degree
Polish:
przedni
— foremost, very first or very highest in quality or degree
Russian:
пе́рвый
(pérvyj)
— foremost, very first or very highest in quality or degree
Russian:
перве́йший
(pervéjšij)
— foremost, very first or very highest in quality or degree
Russian:
передово́й
(peredovój)
— foremost, very first or very highest in quality or degree
Russian:
выдаю́щийся
(vydajúščijsja)
— foremost, very first or very highest in quality or degree
Spanish:
fénix
— foremost, very first or very highest in quality or degree
Swedish:
först
— foremost, very first or very highest in quality or degree
Swedish:
förnämst
— foremost, very first or very highest in quality or degree
Swedish:
främst
— foremost, very first or very highest in quality or degree
Spanish:
premier
— prime minister of a country
Chinese Cantonese:
省長 /省长
(saang2 zoeng2)
— Australia, Canada: head of a state or provincial government
Chinese Cantonese:
州長 /州长
(zau1 zoeng2)
— Australia, Canada: head of a state or provincial government
Chinese Mandarin:
省長 /省长
(shěngzhǎng)
— Australia, Canada: head of a state or provincial government
Chinese Mandarin:
州長 /州长
(zhōuzhǎng)
— Australia, Canada: head of a state or provincial government
Esperanto:
ĉefministro
— Australia, Canada: head of a state or provincial government
Esperanto:
ministroprezidanto
— Australia, Canada: head of a state or provincial government
Esperanto:
premiero
— Australia, Canada: head of a state or provincial government
Finnish:
osavaltion pääministeri
— Australia, Canada: head of a state or provincial government
Finnish:
provinssin pääministeri
— Australia, Canada: head of a state or provincial government
French:
premier ministre
— Australia, Canada: head of a state or provincial government
Macedonian:
премие́р
(premiér)
— Australia, Canada: head of a state or provincial government
Polish:
premier
— Australia, Canada: head of a state or provincial government
Russian:
премье́р
(premʹjér)
— Australia, Canada: head of a state or provincial government
Russian:
премье́р-мини́стр
(premʹjér-minístr)
— Australia, Canada: head of a state or provincial government
Spanish:
premier
— Australia, Canada: head of a state or provincial government
Bulgarian:
втори офицер
(vtori oficer)
— nautical slang: the second-in-command officer of a ship
