How to Use number one in a Sentence

number one

1 of 2 noun
  • Who's number one in this office?
  • Her movie is currently number one at the box office.
  • Getting the car fixed is number one on my list of priorities.
  • I've been taking care of other people for too long. It's time for me to take care of number one.
  • I'll tell you why we can't go on a vacation: number one, we can't afford it, and number two, we'll miss my sister's party.
  • This was my number one spot on my own.
    — ABC News, 12 Mar. 2026
  • This is not a layup, number one.
    — Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 31 Oct. 2025
  • But who was your number one out there?
    — Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Apr. 2026
  • There would be four number one songs on it.
    — Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 21 Aug. 2025
  • That’s number one, two, and three.
    — Eric Cortellessa, Time, 5 Mar. 2026
  • But once the break ends, be ready for a new number one.
    — Sean McIndoe, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
  • That is the best reason to be number one.
    — Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 3 Nov. 2025
  • One of was my number one ally and then turned on me.
    — Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Feb. 2026
  • My right arm locked up over pretend mogul number one.
    — Marisa McMillan, Outside, 27 Feb. 2026
  • And acting was the number one thing on the top of the list.
    — Essence, 16 Jan. 2026
  • My number one hack for stress-free travel?
    — Emily Weaver, PEOPLE, 6 Oct. 2025
  • Her number one tip for newbie chefs?
    — Caroline Killilea, PEOPLE, 22 May 2026
  • It’s ranked as the number one pain point in headset use.
    — Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
  • Hull number one is now under build.
    — Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 29 Sep. 2025
  • That ranked number one in the nation.
    — Jeff Wagner, CBS News, 6 Jan. 2026
  • So, number one, where are the options?
    — Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 25 Feb. 2026
  • Most of all, thank you to my wife Mary who has been my number one.
    — Dan Freedman, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
  • Most of all, thank you to my wife Mary who has been my number one.
    — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 25 May 2026
  • Your movie is the number one movie in Hong Kong.
    — Meredith Wilshere, PEOPLE, 17 Jan. 2026
  • So a horse from the number one post hasn't won the race in 40 years.
    — Dana Taylor, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2026
  • And so Rizo filled the void of a number one.
    — Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Apr. 2026
  • This isn't instant soup, number one.
    — CBS News, 12 Apr. 2026
  • That’s number one, and that’s genuine.
    — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 18 Feb. 2026
  • Opening at number one is going to have to be good enough for her.
    — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2025
  • The first show of the season set in Hawaii was number one.
    — Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026

number one

2 of 2 adjective
  • Rule number one is don't get caught!
  • The book is the company's number one seller.
  • He's public enemy number one: the nation's most wanted criminal.
  • That’s the number one thought going through our heads at all times.
    — Jonathan Cohen, SPIN, 30 Aug. 2022
  • This is the number one best selling oil out there in the market right now.
    — Essence, 7 Dec. 2022
  • As far as our football team, that’s the focus, the number one thing.
    — al, 21 July 2022
  • Most weeks at number one for any player in the history of the tour.
    — Carol Memmott, Washington Post, 17 Aug. 2022
  • My number one goal is to listen and learn and talk to the membership.
    — Carolyn Giardina, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Apr. 2022
  • If having a bench that is three deep in each area is a luxury, see number one.
    — Kimberly Osborne, Forbes, 16 Aug. 2022
  • The number one cause of death among young people is gun violence.
    — Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 2 Dec. 2022
  • The number one must-have for me this season is their oversized oxford shirt in sky blue.
    — Laia Garcia-Furtado, Vogue, 22 Aug. 2022
  • Flash point number one are the consequences of elections here, the midterms.
    — CBS News, 19 Oct. 2022
  • These folks are quite easily amused and have a deep desire to be number one or to finish first.
    — Glamour, 31 May 2022
  • Giannuzzi started last season as the number one but didn’t have a good year.
    — Dylan Bumbarger, oregonlive, 23 Sep. 2022
  • The number one source of the best hires is employee referrals.
    — Quora, Forbes, 6 May 2022
  • To be on their first album that hit number one, played on most of their most iconic songs, co-wrote one of their most iconic songs.
    — Ben Flanagan | [email protected], al, 27 Apr. 2022
  • So number one, get a lay of the land; understand the county, state and local taxes.
    — CBS News, 29 Apr. 2022
  • So talent of all types and IP, which is similar to us, is number one.
    — John Hopewell, Variety, 27 Apr. 2022
  • And the number one thing is to stop trying to create a parallel data system.
    — CBS News, 21 Aug. 2022
  • Melbourne—joint 10th—this city that has 'four seasons in one day', has been number one, seven years in a row.
    — Alex Ledsom, Forbes, 17 Aug. 2022
  • The number one thing that can keep you from the I-don't-need-makeup type of complexion is uneven skin tone.
    — Janell M. Hickman, SELF, 27 July 2022
  • Adele took that honor last year with her album 30, which was number one for the first six weeks after its release.
    — Aimée Lutkin, ELLE, 20 Aug. 2022
  • Meredith Blake is by and large number one, but Lisa Luder has her moments.
    — Keaton Bell, Vogue, 27 Apr. 2022
  • For candles and diffusers, my number one is an English brand called True Grace.
    — Jihan Forbes, Allure, 16 June 2022
  • That record because the rapper’s first release to hit number one on the Billboard Charts.
    — Kat Bouza, Rolling Stone, 27 May 2022
  • And the business remains the number one beauty brand for American teens.
    — Jon Markman, Forbes, 25 Apr. 2022
  • The Cate Blanchett-starring drama was number one on Gleiberman’s list.
    — Zack Sharf, Variety, 23 Dec. 2022
  • Right from the opening scream, Rihanna's number one hit will get people dancing — and singing along to that crazy catchy hook.
    — Caroline Picard, Good Housekeeping, 22 June 2022
  • The album rapidly shot to number one in Italy and briefly made the global top ten list on Spotify.
    — Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 24 June 2022
  • In the first photoshoot, Romeo sat in front of balloons and a number one sign, smiling in a gray and white outfit with a blue beret.
    — Nicholas Rice, PEOPLE.com, 1 Aug. 2022

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'number one.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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