| DECISIVELY | Month is busy (except the first) in a settling way |
| SEANCE | Every other step except the first in dance party involving spirits (6) |
| THEGOINGRATE | Tempo for 'Exodus'? A settling standard (3,5,4) |
| OPENER | The first in a series of events or games; a player who starts the betting or makes the first bid; or, a utensil for de-lidding a bottle or tin (6) |
| OCKENHEIM | What is one of the spellings of the Flemish composer, the first in a long line of noted Flemish comp |
| ORAL | A spoken test for all except the first and last (4) |
| DOWNANDOUTS | County aids all except the first people in need (4-3-4) |
| ADIOS | Broadcasts all except the first cheers in Seville? (5) |
| HEIST | He is the first in a burglary |
| ALPHA | Which word is often used to designate the first in a series (5) |
| ALLEVIATED | Relieved everyone except the first turned aside (10) |
| WICKS | Illuminated points with expressions of approval (except the first) |
| RID | Clear where to write solutions, except the first |
| ANNUL | Tear up yearbook, except the first of August (5) |
| HARRYRAMSDEN | Yorkshire businessman who founded the first in a chain of fish and chips stores in 1928 (5,7) |
| FOUNDATION | A 1942 issue of Astounding Science-Fiction included this Isaac Asimov story, the first in a long-running series |
| STARWARS | The first in a series of films directed by George Lucas, released in 1977 (4,4) |
| MATRIX | 'The ---', first in a series of films by the Wachowskis starring Keanu Reeves as Neo (6) |
| RAAZ | Movie title meaning 'The Secret', the first in a successful supernatural franchise (2002 film). (4) |
| XMEN | 2000 film which was the first in a series including the Wolverine and Deadpool films (1-3) |
