First-rate
What it means
Belonging among the highest level of quality, skill, or service.
Reach for it when giving confident praise that sounds credible rather than breathless
The rural clinic provides first-rate rehabilitation close to home.
Words to choose between 7
| playful | |
|---|---|
| everyday |
|
| warm | |
| professional | |
| formal |
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playful
Fits when informal praise should feel energetic and confident
Careful Top-notch is too breezy for an audited quality claim.
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everyday
Fits when materials or products meet a very high standard
Careful Top-quality sounds commercial when praising a person's judgment.
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warm
Fits when talent or an idea inspires lively admiration
Careful Brilliant can wrongly imply intelligence when service was simply reliable.
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professional
Fits when strong quality needs measured universal praise
Careful Excellent is less distinctive and carries no ranking flavor.
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professional
Fits when performance clearly rises above its peers
Careful Outstanding requires comparison that may not have occurred.
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formal
Fits when rank or reputation as a leader is central
Careful Premier may read as branding rather than earned quality.
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formal
Fits when polished execution deserves concise elevated approval
Careful Superb feels ceremonious in a casual thank-you.
Opposites 3
- inferior
- mediocre
- second-rate
Common phrases 3
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first-rate service
The repair shop earned trust through first-rate service.
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first-rate condition
Volunteers returned the instruments in first-rate condition.
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first-rate performer
A first-rate performer also knows when to support the ensemble.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Commander Keane, Australian accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Updated