Definitions

first of all

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.

You should know, first of all, that hospice is often the right choice and the best choice, as hard as it can be to accept that reality.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 25, 2026

"Just first of all, I would say, Europe is still a very good place to live in," said Martin.

From Barron's • Mar. 17, 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

"You want somebody who first of all has a connection to Strictly, and secondly who cares about people because ultimately it's about people, it's about the dancers," she said.

From BBC • Jan. 26, 2026

There are, first of all, identity claims, which are deliberate expressions about how we would like to be seen by the world: a framed copy of a magna cum laude degree from Harvard, for example.

From "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell

first of all

Example Sentences

Related Words