Definitions

first of all

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first off adv.
principally adv.

ADVERB

first off

Synonyms

WEAK

first thing firstly foremost immediately in the first place primo up front

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 for the most part fundamentally in the first place 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.

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first of all

“I think, first of all, you have to have the will to reinvent,” Maynard said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 9, 2026

I hope I can go early to the house but first of all we have to find one.

From BBC ● Jul. 6, 2026

They tell hikers, first of all, to stay on the marked trails.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 23, 2026

You have to, first of all, for PR purposes, make everybody think they’re going to be accountable for everything going forward.

From Slate ● Feb. 17, 2026

It demands first of all the ability to think of sticks or stones as “fruit knockers” or “bone crackers,” not only when they are needed for such purposes but at other times as well.

From "History of Art, Volume 1" by H.W. Janson

first of all

Example Sentences

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