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 this shift shows, first of all, how much culture really does permeate the Supreme Court.

From Slate ● Jun. 18, 2026

"What we've realised is first of all on the environmental level, that a lot of football boots get put into landfill, which we need to avoid, and secondly, these boots are reusable," he said.

From BBC ● Jun. 14, 2026

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

My key focus is, first of all, to build a company that can exist as an independent company that delivers long-term, durable, sustainable growth.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 30, 2026

Here the adventurer and king sat down; then carefully Penelope began: “Friend, let me ask you first of all: who are you, where do you come from, of what nation and parents were you born?”

From "The Odyssey" by Homer

first of all

Example Sentences

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