at first

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.

"People might not at first sight think this is a special place, but it is," he said.

From BBC • Jul. 3, 2026

Thomas’ dissent is, in many respects, more emotionally complex than either his admirers or his critics, like me, were at first blush ready to admit.

From Slate • Jul. 2, 2026

And it does seem like a steep sentence, for contact that wasn’t even given a yellow card at first, and which, when decelerated in granular slow-mo, looks worse than it actually was.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 2, 2026

The Spanish, who had at first just flitted along the coast in their galleons, had begun marching inland and overland from Mexico with crosses and soldiers and soldiers’ families.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 2, 2026

It’s what I thought I wanted ten minutes ago, and at first I thrill at this thought, that I could walk out of this building and never again have to return.

From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse