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Definitions

in the first place

ADVERB
chiefly
Synonyms
STRONGEST
especially essentially largely mostly predominantly principally
STRONG
mainly primarily
WEAK
above all in general in the main on the whole overall usually
Antonyms
WEAK
unimportantly
ADVERB
first
Synonyms
STRONGEST
initially originally
WEAK
ahead at the outset before all else beforehand to begin with to start with
Antonyms
WEAK
finally last
ADVERB
first off
Synonyms
WEAK
first of all first thing firstly foremost immediately primo up front
ADVERB
originally
Synonyms
STRONGEST
basically formerly
STRONG
primitively
WEAK
at first at the outset at the start by birth by origin first in the beginning incipiently primarily to begin with
Antonyms
WEAK
secondarily
ADVERB
primarily
Synonyms
WEAK
at first at the start first and foremost from the start initially originally primitively
Antonyms
WEAK
finally secondarily
ADVERB
principally
Synonyms
STRONGEST
basically chiefly first and foremost generally importantly largely mostly notably particularly predominantly
STRONG
primarily
WEAK
above all before anything else cardinally dominantly eminently especially essentially first of all for the most part fundamentally in the main materially peculiarly preeminently prevailingly prevalently substantially superlatively supremely to a great degree universally vitally
Antonyms
WEAK
secondarily trivially

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Not because they’re bad, but because they were never fully realized in the first place.

From Salon • Apr. 10, 2026

In contrast, BRD2 works earlier, helping assemble and organize the molecular components needed to start transcription in the first place.

From Science Daily • Apr. 9, 2026

But with more substantive changes, such as improving facilities, rethinking course design, addressing time constraints and making it easier for women to start playing golf in the first place.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

That has put pressure on Lebanon’s delicate sectarian balance, with some communities expelling the displaced Shiites or not allowing them to come in the first place for fear of being targeted by Israel.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2026

If they could figure out where the frogs had come from, maybe they could find some evidence of who brought them in the first place.

From "Hopping Mad (The Hardy Boys: Secret Files, #4)" by Franklin W. Dixon