From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishfirst-rateˌfirst-ˈrate adjective GOOD/EXCELLENTof the very best quality SYN excellent He’s a first-rate surgeon.
Examples from the Corpus
first-rate• It is directed by James Cameron, though, and so primarily a first-rate action picture.• Jim said that the store had a first-rate food department and a bank.• From Doubleday comes a new series of first-rate hardbacks for small children.• This is not a first-rate print.• The struggle produced at least two first-rate publications in the field of political literature.• They were first-rate soldiers and archers, and extraordinary horsemen.From Longman Business Dictionaryfirst-rateˌfirst-ˈrate adjective excellent or of the very best qualityOur sales force receive first-rate training.Service at the hotel is first-rate, and the rates are very reasonable. 