first cause

fɜrst kɔz

Definition

Definition of first cause - Reverso English Dictionary

Noun

origin of everything

TECH.

initial source or cause from which everything else comes

TECH.

Many philosophers debated the nature of the first cause.
Scientists sought the first cause of the universe.
The theologian claimed God is the first cause.

prime mover

Add a suggestion |

Feedback:

Expressions with first

put first

arrange something at the beginning of a sequence

He put the most important task first on his list.

blink first

give in or show weakness before the other side

He didn't want to blink first during the tense meeting.

first light

time when light first appears in the morning

We set out on our hike at first light.

first off

adv.

introduce the first point or start the first action before others

First off, we need to discuss the budget before proceeding.

at first sight

adv.

immediately upon seeing something or someone

She fell in love at first sight.

first things first

exp.

address important tasks before others

First things first, finish your homework before playing.

Expressions with cause

lost cause

person or thing that is hopeless or futile

Trying to fix that old car is a lost cause.

cause célèbre

issue arousing widespread public debate

The trial became a cause célèbre in the media.

cause a fuss

create a disturbance or commotion about something

She caused a fuss at the restaurant over her order.

cause a stir

make people excited, upset, or talk a lot about something

The new policy will cause a stir in the city.

cause a big stir

create excitement or controversy among people

The new policy caused a big stir in the community.

cause a commotion

create a noisy disturbance or uproar

The loud music caused a commotion in the neighborhood.

cause a flutter

make someone feel excited or nervous suddenly

Her smile could cause a flutter in anyone's heart.

cause a scene

create a loud or noticeable disturbance

She didn't want to cause a scene at the restaurant.

cause a sensation

create excitement or interest among people

The new movie caused a sensation worldwide.

champion the cause

support a cause or idea strongly

She championed the cause of environmental protection in her community.

Terms with first cause included in their meaning

💡 A powerful way to uncover related words, idioms, and expressions linked by the same idea — and explore meaning beyond exact word matches.

draw first blood

physical fight

cause the first injury in a fight or battle

protomartyr

first martyr

first person to die for a cause

View all translations of first cause

✨Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.

French:cause première, ...
German:Erste Ursache, ...
Italian:causa prima, ...
Spanish:causa primera, ...
Portuguese:primeira causa, ...
Chinese:第一因, ...
Japanese:最初の原因, ...
Arabic:السبب الأول, ...
Hebrew:סִיבָּה רִאשׁוֹנָה, ...
Russian:первопричина, ...
Ukrainian:перша причина, ...
Hindi:प्रथम कारण, ...
Bengali:প্রথম কারণ, ...
Catalan:causa primera, ...
Czech:první příčina, ...
Danish:første årsag, ...
Dutch:eerste oorzaak, ...
Greek:πρώτη αιτία, ...
Hungarian:első ok, ...
Khmer:បុព្វហេតុ, ...
Korean:제일 원인, ...
Persian:علت اولیه, ...
Polish:pierwsza przyczyna, ...
Portuguese (BR):causa primeira, ...
Romanian:cauza primă, ...
Swedish:första orsak, ...
Thai:สาเหตุแรกเริ่ม, ...
Turkish:birinci neden, ...
Vietnamese:nguyên nhân đầu tiên, ...

Browse the dictionary entries starting with “f”:

first call

first catch your hare

first choice

first class

Discover how Reverso redefines the dictionary

Go beyond “simple words”

100,000 expressions & idioms Understand any expression you come across: from corporate jargon like 💬 touch base or ↩️ circle back to everyday expressions such as 🌊 out of the blue or 🦆 lame duck, as well as idioms like 🍲 spill the beans and 🐎 hold your horses.

40,000 images When you search for a concrete noun or object, images help you grasp the meaning at a glance. Try searching for 🧵 puppytooth, 🎠 merry-go-round, ⚜️ fleur-de-lys, or 💤 bunk bed.

Informal language & slang Everyday conversations are packed with informal expressions and slang. Meanings are clearly tagged, so you'll always know when a word is casual. Look up hangry (😋 hungry + 😡 angry), 😎 rizz, 🕹️ noob, or 🔑 low-key.

Abbreviations & acronyms Quickly decode modern abbreviations and acronyms. Go from IDK to OMG in seconds and stay up to date with popular abbreviations such as 🐐 GOAT, 📜 tl;dr, 👀 POV, or 🖥️ AFK.

Regional usage (US / UK) Reverso highlights regional differences between American and British English. You’ll never have to wonder where a word is commonly used: try lift vs. elevator, courgette vs. zucchini, or popular British slang like dodgy or banter. What’s more, when you search for 'color', you’ll immediately see its British counterpart, 'colour'.

Get more than a simple definition

Translations for each meaning View translations alongside each meaning to see how a word is translated in each context. Simply toggle translations ON and choose among 25+ languages. You can also display the translation of definitions or examples into your native language to deepen your understanding.

Synonyms & related words by meaning View synonyms and related words for each meaning, not just for the word as a whole. This helps you choose the most accurate word for your context. Click the

icon to discover related terms: analogies, antonyms, common collocates, words with same roots, umbrella terms… Try with happening or hunch.

Multiple examples for every meaning Each meaning comes with three real-life examples to show you how the word is used in different contexts. Click the

icon next to the first example to see two additional options and learn to use new vocabulary naturally.

Go from understanding to mastery

Save words for later review Click the

icon to save words you want to revisit. You can also save a specific meaning by clicking on the

icon next to it. For example, you might want to save the word “table” as a verb, which means “to postpone”.

Practice with personalized flashcards Reverso automatically transforms your searches and saved words into personalized flashcards and quizzes, featuring high-quality audio and usage examples. This helps you transform terms you only recognize into words you actually use confidently.

Learn with Netflix, YouTube, and your favorite texts With Reverso Chrome extension, transform movies, TV shows, articles, or song lyrics into an interactive lesson. Look up words and expressions in one click on any website and learn with your favorite content.