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Showing results for at first.
Definitions

at first

ADVERB
originally
Synonyms
STRONGEST
basically formerly
STRONG
primitively
WEAK
at the outset at the start by birth by origin first in the beginning in the first place incipiently primarily to begin with
Antonyms
WEAK
secondarily
ADVERB
primarily
Synonyms
WEAK
at the start first and foremost from the start in the first place initially originally primitively
Antonyms
WEAK
finally secondarily

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.

The young and vulnerable man says he did not fully understand what the diagnosis meant at first.

From BBC • Apr. 23, 2026

"It's just literally impossible to predict, except that I think it will be quite slow at first," he said of output.

From Barron's • Apr. 22, 2026

If you stop working before you claim Social Security, you might have no money at all coming in at first.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 22, 2026

“Running faster may not seem meaningful at first, but it enables technology transfer,” Du Xiaodi, an Honor engineer behind Lightning, told state media.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 20, 2026

"Still, we shall see. Let us rest now. We will start at first light. It would be well to be early visitors if visitors we are to be."

From "Rowan of Rin" by Emily Rodda