The phrase "is first" refers to something being the foremost or initial entity in a given context. There are several synonyms for this phrase, including "takes precedence," "leads the way," "comes before," "tops the list," "starts off," and "takes the lead." These synonyms can be used interchangeably with "is first" to convey the same meaning in different situations. For instance, "takes the lead" can be used when describing a team that is ahead in a game, while "starts off" can be used in the context of a project that has just begun. Whatever the situation, there is always a synonym for "is first" that can be used to describe it accurately.