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head of the line

ADJECTIVE
first
Synonyms
STRONG
arch champion chief dominant foremost head leading main premier primary prime primo principal ranking ruling sovereign
WEAK
A number one advanced eminent first-class first-string greatest number one outstanding paramount predominant preeminent supreme top of the list top-flight
Antonyms
STRONG
auxiliary inessential inferior least minor secondary subordinate trivial unimportant unnecessary

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“If you can spend $1 million…you can jump to the head of the line and be qualified for a visa that you’re not qualified for,” Craig Becker, of Democracy Defenders Fund, told Barron’s.

From Barron's • Mar. 6, 2026

However, if an object is requested again while it moves down the conveyor belt, it gets moved back to the head of the line.

From Science Daily • Jan. 24, 2024

Robetto directed Brooks to move to the head of the line, holding onto the firefighter’s jacket to make sure he did not get lost during the switch, where visibility was no more than arm’s length.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 16, 2024

When it came time to don a well-worn sumo costume, and face Jumbo in the ring, Aguillar was at the head of the line.

From Reuters • Jul. 7, 2023

I was at the head of the line, at 23,000 feet, fifteen minutes in front of guide Mike Groom; I decided to wait for him and talk things over.

From "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer