came in first

USAGE SUMMARY

"came in first" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to talk about someone or something that achieved the highest level of success in a competition, race, or other activity. For example: "The blue team came in first in the race, earning them the championship title."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

(Sex came in first).

The New Yorker

(Dr. Lyubomirsky came in first).

The New York Times

I came in first in four categories.

The New York Times

Victor Hugo's "Les Misérables" came in first.

The New Yorker

McDermid came in first.

The Guardian - Books

Haldeman came in first.

The Guardian

(Terrorism came in first).

The New York Times

(New York came in first).

The New York Times - Magazine

Medicare came in first, at 92percentt.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

The Golden Gate Bridge came in second.

Los Angeles Times

I came in second.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "came in first" to clearly and concisely indicate that someone or something achieved the highest rank or position in a competition or ranking. Ensure the context makes it clear what they came in first in.

Common error

Avoid using "came in first" without clearly establishing the context of the competition or ranking. Be specific about what the subject achieved first place in to prevent ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "came in first" functions as a verb phrase indicating the achievement of the highest rank or position in a competition, race, or ranking. As Ludwig AI explains, the phrase is a correct and usable expression in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Academia

15%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Science

3%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "came in first" is a commonly used phrase to denote achieving the top position in a competition or ranking. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in various contexts. Predominantly found in News & Media and Academic sources, the phrase maintains a neutral register suitable for professional and informative communication. To enhance clarity, always specify the context in which someone or something "came in first". Alternatives include "won first prize" or "took the top spot". In all its forms, it's a phrase you can confidently use in English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

finished in first place

Emphasizes the act of finishing a competition or race in the leading position.

won first prize

Highlights the winning of a specific award or honor for achieving the top rank.

took the top spot

Uses more informal language to describe attaining the highest position.

achieved first position

Formal way of stating the accomplishment of reaching the number one rank.

led the pack

Focuses on being ahead of all competitors, implying a leading position.

emerged victorious

Highlights the victory aspect of achieving first place, often used in more dramatic contexts.

ranked number one

Directly states the ranking of being in the first position.

topped the leaderboard

Specifically used when referring to a competition tracked by a leaderboard.

secured first place

Emphasizes the act of obtaining or guaranteeing the top position.

grabbed the gold

Informal and vivid way to describe winning first place, especially in sports.

FAQs

How can I use "came in first" in a sentence?

Use "came in first" to indicate the top position in a competition or ranking. For example, "The blue team "finished in first place" in the race."

What are some alternatives to saying "came in first"?

You can use alternatives like "won first prize", "took the top spot", or "achieved first position" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "come in first" instead of "came in first"?

"Come in first" is present tense, suitable for instructions or hypothetical situations. "Came in first" is past tense, used to describe a completed event.

What's the difference between "came in first" and "came first"?

"Came in first" emphasizes the context of a competition or ranking, while "came first" can be more general, meaning to occur or be considered before others. For example, "Safety "came in second" when they were making this product" is a completely valid sentence.