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.

At first he thought it was just the one animal but later found a carrier containing a female and four male newborn kittens.

From BBC

Considered an unremarkable man, lacking the charisma and the religious bona fides of his predecessor — and with the country emerging from a bruising eight-year war with Iraq — Khamenei did not come with an ambitious plan for change at first.

From Los Angeles Times

"For example, if at first proteins A and B are separate, adding caffeine brings them together; conversely, if proteins A and B start out together, adding a drug like rapamycin can cause them to dissociate."

From Science Daily

"At first we heard a dull noise and thought it was a fighter jet."

From Barron's

“After Christmas we put it together and the kids made a run, but we changed our system. I told them we’re gonna do something unconventional and I put in the old Loyola Marymount offense. The kids resisted at first but eventually they bought in.”

From Los Angeles Times