| 100% | MELBA | 5 | Dame Nellie, who sang at the Met for the first time in 1893 |
| 49% | SAUDIS | 6 | Women who were legally permitted to drive for the first time in 2018 |
| 45% | MBEKI | 5 | South African president who was instrumental in bringing the FIFA World Cup to Africa for the first time |
| 44% | TETRIS | 6 | Video game “beaten” for the first time, in 2023, by thirteen-year-old Willis Gibson, who advanced so far that the screen froze |
| 44% | MERRILL | 7 | Robert who sang the role of Figaro 46 times at the Met |
| 44% | ABRAHAMLINCOLN | 14 | President who signed the Yosemite Valley Grant Act in 1864, setting aside land for preservation for the first time: 2 wds. |
| 43% | ELSA | 4 | One of two Disney characters singing "For the First Time in Forever" |
| 43% | SWUM | 4 | Like the English Channel for the first time in 1875 |
| 43% | GRAYHOLE | 8 | Outer space phenomenon photographed for the first time in 2019 |
| 42% | BARBIE | 6 | Doll that ran for president for the first time in 1992 |
| 42% | ASIA | 4 | Where the Olympics were held for the first time in 1964 |
| 42% | SAUDI | 5 | ___ Arabia (nation where women voted for the first time in 2015) |
| 42% | WOMENSWORLDCUP | 14 | FIFA event held for the first time in 1991 (3 wds.) |
| 42% | AMARA | 5 | Soprano Lucine ___ who sang at the Met across 41 seasons (1950-91) |
| 42% | RADIO | 5 | It was used to play music for the first time in 1906 |
| 41% | NAME | 4 | "What's your ___?" question you ask someone you met for the first time |
| 41% | VINYLS | 6 | Records that outsold CDs in 2022, for the first time in 35 years |
| 41% | LPS | 3 | In 2020, they outsold CDs for the first time since 1986 |
| 41% | JONIMITCHELL | 12 | Singer-songwriter who sang "Both Sides Now" at the 2024 Grammy Awards in her first-ever Grammy performance (2 wds.) |
| 41% | REFUGEES | 8 | Competed for the first time at the 2016 Olympics |
| 41% | SQUID | 5 | Colossal ___, marine animal filmed in its natural habitat for the first time in 2025 |
| 41% | USPOSTAGE | 9 | It fell in 2016 for the first time since 1919 |
| 40% | TRIB | 4 | Pub. whose editorial page endorsed a Democrat for president for the first time in 2008 |
| 40% | JAMESBOND | 9 | British spy played by 33-Across for the first time in 48-Across (2 wds.) |
| 40% | MARINEONE | 9 | Presidential carrier that flew with an all-women crew for the first time in 2009 |
| 40% | COEDS | 5 | Some University of Virginia undergrads in 1969, for the first time |
| 40% | POI | 3 | Food that tourists in Hawaii often try for the first time |
| 40% | FLIES | 5 | In the musical "Wicked," what Elphaba does for the first time during "Defying Gravity" |
| 40% | LUAU | 4 | Party where tourists in Hawaii might try poi for the first time |
| 40% | LOS | 3 | ___ Angeles, city in which Elton John performed at the Troubadour for his first concert in the US |