first-ever 中的后缀-ever用于表示强调。类似的比较典型的构词例子是用于最高级后面（表示“迄今为止最……的”“有史以来最……的”）。如：

The pound has fallen to its lowest-ever level against the dollar. 英镑对美元的汇率下跌到历史最低水准。

219 people were killed in the country’s worst-ever plane crash. 在该国有史以来最为严重的坠机事故中有219人遇难。

It is the biggest-ever search for intelligent life elsewhere in the universe. 这是有史以来规模最大的寻找外星智能生命的行动。

They appointed the youngest-ever ambassador to Washington. 他们委派了一名迄今为止最年轻的大使去华盛顿。

The company is on course to make its worst-ever losses this year. 该公司今年很可能是有史以来亏损最严重的一年。

He was promoted over the heads of many senior officers to be the youngest-ever CIGS. 他被提升到许多高级军官之上，成为有史以来最年轻的帝国总参谋长。

另有whoever, whatever, whenever等词中的-ever也含有强调意味：whoever=无论是谁，whatever=无论什么，whenever=无论什么时候……