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.

"We're not even talking about elections, first of all," Traore said in the interview with state broadcaster RTB.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

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

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 23, 2026

It is, first of all, of aftermarket proportions—about the size of a country ham.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 12, 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

“To do evil a human being must first of all believe that what he’s doing is good, or else that it’s a well-considered act in conformity with natural law.”

From "Between the World and Me" by Ta-Nehisi Coates

first of all

Example Sentences

Related Words