Definition

1. Adjective:

   • First in time, order, or importance; leading: Used to describe something that is the earliest, most important, or highest in rank.
   • Of the highest quality or rank; foremost: Describing something that is considered the best or most significant in its category.

2. Noun:

   • A prime minister or other head of government: The chief executive of a government, especially in countries that are part of the Commonwealth of Nations.
   • The leader of a government ministry or department: In some contexts, it can refer to the head of a specific government department.

3. Verb:

   • To present for the first time; to give a first public performance: To introduce or debut a work, such as a play, film, or piece of music, to an audience.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective:

  • The company's premier product revolutionized the industry.
  • She is considered the premier expert in her field.

• Noun:

  • The Premier of the province announced new economic policies.
  • The meeting was attended by several foreign premiers.

• Verb:

  • The theater will premier a new musical next month.
  • The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival.

Advanced Usage

• "Premier league/division": Refers to the top tier in a system of sports leagues, especially in soccer.

  • The team was promoted to the premier division.

• "Premier status": Indicates a position of being first or most important.

  • The university maintains its premier status among research institutions.

Variants and Related Words

• Premiere (noun/verb): A first public performance or presentation. Often used interchangeably with the verb form of "premier," though "premiere" is more common for artistic works.

  • The movie's premiere was a star-studded event.

• Premiership (noun): The office or period of service of a premier (head of government).

  • During his premiership, several key reforms were passed.

Synonyms

• Adjective: Chief, foremost, principal, primary, leading, top.
• Noun: Prime minister, chancellor, head of government.
• Verb: Debut, launch, introduce, unveil.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• To premier as: To make one's first appearance in a particular role.
  • The actor premiered as Hamlet to great acclaim.

Related Idioms

• To hold the premier position: To be in the most important or leading role.
  • For decades, the company has held the premier position in the market.

Adjective

1. preceding all others in time
   • the premiere showing
2. first in rank or degree
   • an architect of premier rank
   • the prime minister

Noun

1. the person who is head of state (in several countries)
2. the person who holds the position of head of the government in the United Kingdom

Verb

1. perform a work for the first time
2. be performed for the first time
   • We premiered the opera of the young composer and it was a critical success