Ring first, for example, self (3)
I believe the answer is:
ego
'self' is the definition.
(synonyms)
'ring first for example' is the wordplay.
'ring' becomes 'O' (letter resembling a ring).
'first' says to put letters next to each other.
'for example' becomes 'e.g.' (short for 'exempli gratia', 'for example' in Latin).
'o' after 'eg' is 'EGO'.
(Other definitions for ego that I've seen before include "Sense of self, conceit" , "Consciousness" , "One's self-image" , "Conscious mind" , "In Virgil I" .)